Brief contribution to better service (5)

I believe the answer is:

terse

'brief' is the definition.
(synonyms)

'contribution to better service' is the wordplay.
'contribution to' indicates a hidden word.
'TERSE' is hidden within 'better service'.

(Other definitions for terse that I've seen before include "Crisply brief" , "Reset to be pithy" , "Sententious" , "Brusque among trees" , "Briefly expressed" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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