Some claim a gin expands figure (7)
I believe the answer is:
imagine
'figure' is the definition.
(thesaurus)
'some claim a gin expands' is the wordplay.
'some' says the answer is hidden in the clue (some of the parts of the word are used).
'IMAGINE' can be found hidden inside 'claim a gin expands'.
(Other definitions for imagine that I've seen before include "Picture in mind, envisage" , "Picture, conceive" , "Conceive; fancy" , "Picture to oneself" , "Conjure up in mind,fancy" .)