Main Entry: un·der·stand

Pronunciation: \ˌən-dər-ˈstand\

Function: verb

Inflected Form(s): un·der·stood \-ˈstu̇d\; un·der·stand·ing

Etymology: Middle English, from Old English understandan, from under + standan to stand

Date: before 12th century

transitive verb 1 a : to grasp the meaning of <understand Russian> b : to grasp the reasonableness of <his behavior is hard to understand> c : to have thorough or technical acquaintance with or expertness in the practice of <understand finance> d : to be thoroughly familiar with the character and propensities of <understands children>
2 : to accept as a fact or truth or regard as plausible without utter certainty <we understand that he is returning from abroad>
3 : to interpret in one of a number of possible ways
4 : to supply in thought as though expressed <“to be married” is commonly understood after the word engaged>intransitive verb 1 : to have understanding : have the power of comprehension
2 : to achieve a grasp of the nature, significance, or explanation of something
3 : to believe or infer something to be the case
4 : to show a sympathetic or tolerant attitude toward something

— un·der·stand·abil·i·ty \-ˌstan-də-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun

— un·der·stand·able \-ˈstan-də-bəl\ adjective

synonyms understand, comprehend, appreciate mean to have a clear or complete idea of. understand and comprehend are very often interchangeable. understand may, however, stress the fact of having attained a firm mental grasp of something <orders that were fully understood and promptly obeyed>. comprehend may stress the process of coming to grips with something intellectually <I have trouble comprehending your reasons for doing this>. appreciate implies a just evaluation or judgment of a thing's value or nature <failed to appreciate the risks involved>.