Figure advanced as a joint contribution (5)
I believe the answer is:
tenon
'joint contribution' is the definition.
'tenon' can be an answer for 'joint' (I've seen this in other clues). I am unsure of the 'contribution' bit.
'figure advanced as a' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'figure' could be 'ten' (ten is a number) and 'ten' is located in the answer.
The remaining letters 'on' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for tenon that I've seen before include "piece of carpentry?" , "Tongue of wood, fits into mortise" , "One projecting" , "Projection used in a mortise joint" , "Tongue of wood for joint" .)