Set out with hesitation in compound (5)
I believe the answer is:
ester
'compound' is the definition.
(ester is a kind of compound)
'set out with hesitation' is the wordplay.
'out' indicates anagramming the letters (out can mean wrong or inaccurate).
'with' says to put letters next to each other.
'hesitation' becomes 'er' (sound made while hesitating - um, er).
'set' with letters rearranged gives 'est'.
'est'+'er'='ESTER'
'in' is the link.
(Other definitions for ester that I've seen before include "Organic compound, rhymes with court joker" , "Compound; trees (anag.)" , "Chemical compound of acid and alcohol, found in trees" , "Organic chemical compound" , "Fat" .)