Parsimonious leader feels bitter about getting gifts (8)
I believe the answer is:
presents
'gifts' is the definition.
(I know this)
'parsimonious leader feels bitter about getting' is the wordplay.
'leader' indicates taking the first letters.
'feels bitter about' becomes 'resents' ('resent' can be a synonym of 'feel bitter about').
'getting' means one lot of letters go next to another.
The first letter of 'parsimonious' is 'p'.
'p'+'resents'='PRESENTS'
(Other definitions for presents that I've seen before include "tips" , "Awards formally" , "Hands over the gifts" , "Press ten (anag.)" , "donations" .)