[un.der.stand] vb -stood ; -stand.ing [ME, fr. OE understandan, fr. under + standan to stand] vt (bef. 12c) 1 a: to grasp the meaning of "~ Russian" b: to grasp the reasonableness of "his behavior is hard to ~" c: to have thorough or technical acquaintance with or expertness in the practice of "~ finance" d: to be thoroughly familiar with the character and propensities of "~s children"
2: to accept as a fact or truth or regard as plausible without utter certainty "we ~ 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" ~ vi 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 n -- un.der.stand.able adj syn 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".