Appreciate Italian figure (5)
I believe the answer is:
digit
'figure' is the definition.
(numerical figure)
'appreciate italian' is the wordplay.
'appreciate' becomes 'dig' (to dig can mean to appreciate or 'get').
'italian' becomes 'it' (abbreviation for Italian).
'dig'+'it'='DIGIT'
(Other definitions for digit that I've seen before include "Finger, thumb or toe" , "One in ten, say" , "Finger; numeral" , "Like It?" , "one's given?" .)