understand definition | Dictionary.com

un⋅der⋅stand

[uhn-der-stand]

verb, -stood, -stand⋅ing.

–verb (used with object)

1.	to perceive the meaning of; grasp the idea of; comprehend: to understand Spanish; I didn't understand your question.

2.	to be thoroughly familiar with; apprehend clearly the character, nature, or subtleties of: to understand a trade.

3.	to assign a meaning to; interpret: He understood her suggestion as a complaint.

4.	to grasp the significance, implications, or importance of: He does not understand responsibility.

5.	to regard as firmly communicated; take as agreed or settled: I understand that you will repay this loan in 30 days.

6.	to learn or hear: I understand that you are going out of town.

7.	to accept as true; believe: I understand that you are trying to be truthful, but you are wrong.

8.	to construe in a particular way: You are to understand the phrase literally.

9.	to supply mentally (something that is not expressed).

–verb (used without object)

10.	to perceive what is meant; grasp the information conveyed: She told them about it in simple words, hoping they would understand.

11.	to accept tolerantly or sympathetically: If you can't do it, I'll understand.

12.	to have knowledge or background, as on a particular subject: He understands about boats.

13.	to have a systematic interpretation or rationale, as in a field or area of knowledge: He can repeat every rule in the book, but he just doesn't understand.

Origin:
bef. 900; ME understanden, understonden, OE understondan; c. D onderstaan. See under-, stand

Synonyms:
1. See know ¹ .

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source

Link To understand

un·der·stand (ŭn'dər-stānd')

v. un·der·stood (-stŏŏd'), un·der·stand·ing, un·der·stands

v. tr.

To perceive and comprehend the nature and significance of; grasp. See Synonyms at apprehend.
To know thoroughly by close contact or long experience with: That teacher understands children.
1. To grasp or comprehend the meaning intended or expressed by (another): They have trouble with English, but I can understand them.
2. To comprehend the language, sounds, form, or symbols of.
To know and be tolerant or sympathetic toward: I can understand your point of view even though I disagree with it.
To learn indirectly, as by hearsay: I understand his departure was unexpected.
To infer: Am I to understand you are staying the night?
To accept (something) as an agreed fact: It is understood that the fee will be 50 dollars.
To supply or add (words or a meaning, for example) mentally.

v. intr.

1. To have understanding, knowledge, or comprehension.
2. To have sympathy or tolerance.
To learn something indirectly or secondhand; gather.

[Middle English understanden, from Old English understandan : under-, under- + standan, to stand; see stā- in Indo-European roots.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source

Understand

Un`der*stand"\ ([u^]n`d[~e]r*st[a^]nd"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Understood, and Archaic Understanded; p. pr. & vb. n. Understanding.] [OE. understanden, AS. understandan, literally, to stand under; cf. AS. forstandan to understand, G. verstehen. The development of sense is not clear. See Under, and Stand.]

1. To have just and adequate ideas of; to apprehended the meaning or intention of; to have knowledge of; to comprehend; to know; as, to understand a problem in Euclid; to understand a proposition or a declaration; the court understands the advocate or his argument; to understand the sacred oracles; to understand a nod or a wink.

Speaketh [i. e., speak thou] so plain at this time, I you pray, That we may understande what ye say. --Chaucer.

I understand not what you mean by this. --Shak.

Understood not all was but a show. --Milton.

A tongue not understanded of the people. --Bk. of Com. Prayer.

2. To be apprised, or have information, of; to learn; to be informed of; to hear; as, I understand that Congress has passed the bill.

3. To recognize or hold as being or signifying; to suppose to mean; to interpret; to explain.

The most learned interpreters understood the words of sin, and not of Abel. --Locke.

4. To mean without expressing; to imply tacitly; to take for granted; to assume.

War, then, war, Open or understood, must be resolved. --Milton.

5. To stand under; to support. [Jocose & R.] --Shak.

To give one to understand, to cause one to know.

To make one's self understood, to make one's meaning clear.

Understand

Un`der*stand"\, v. i. 1. To have the use of the intellectual faculties; to be an intelligent being.

Imparadised in you, in whom alone I understand, and grow, and see. --Donne.

2. To be informed; to have or receive knowledge.

I came to Jerusalem, and understood of the evil that Eliashib did for Tobiah. --Neh. xiii. 7.

Language Translation for : understand

Spanish: comprender, entender,

German: verstehen,

Japanese: 理解する

More Translations »

understand

O.E. understandan "comprehend, grasp the idea of," probably lit. "stand in the midst of," from under + standan "to stand" (see stand). If this is the meaning, the under is not the usual word meaning "beneath," but from O.E. under, from PIE *nter- "between, among" (cf. Skt. antar "among, between," L. inter "between, among," Gk. entera "intestines;" see inter-). But the exact notion is unclear. Perhaps the ult. sense is "be close to," cf. Gk. epistamai "I know how, I know," lit. "I stand upon." Similar formations are found in O.Fris. (understonda), M.Dan. (understande), while other Gmc. languages use compounds meaning "stand before" (cf. Ger. verstehen, represented in O.E. by forstanden ). For this concept, most I.E. languages use fig. extensions of compounds that lit. mean "put together," or "separate," or "take, grasp."

understand

see give to understand.

Search another word or see understand on Thesaurus | Reference

About · Privacy Policy · Terms of Use · Advertise with Us · Link to Us · NASCAR® · Contact Us