Set out with a compass crossing river (7)
I believe the answer is:
arrange
'set out' is the definition.
(to set or lay out in an ordered way)
'a compass crossing river' is the wordplay.
'compass' becomes 'range' (synonyms).
'crossing' is an insertion indicator.
'river' becomes 'r'.
'range' enclosing 'r' is 'rrange'.
'a'+'rrange'='ARRANGE'
'with' is the link.
(Other definitions for arrange that I've seen before include "Set in order" , "Marshal" , "Put in sequence" , "Put in neat order" , "Put into a proper order" .)