Limited number (3)
I believe the answer is:
few
'limited number' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is all the clue.
(Other definitions for few that I've seen before include "'''Many are called but ... are chosen'' (Bible) (3)'" , "Considerable number, ironically" , "Not many, just a handful" , "Indefinite but small number" , "Only one or two" .)