ˌʌndəˈstænd v. (past
and past part. -stood) 1 tr.
perceive the meaning of (words, a
person, a
language, etc.) (does
not understand
what you say;
understood you
perfectly;
cannot understand French). 2 tr. perceive the
significance or
explanation or
cause of (do not understand
why he
came;
could not understand what the
noise was about; do not understand the
point of
his remark). 3 tr. be sympathetically
aware of the
character or
nature of,
know how to deal
with (quite understand
your difficulty; cannot understand
him at
all; could
never understand algebra). 4 tr. a (often foll. by
that + clause)
infer esp.
from information received,
take as implied, take
for granted (I understand that it begins at
noon; I understand him to be a
distant relation; am I to understand that you refuse?). b (absol.)
believe or
assume from
knowledge or
inference (he is
coming tomorrow, I understand). 5 tr. supply (a word) mentally (the
verb may be
either expressed or understood). 6 intr.
have understanding (in
general or in particular). øunderstand
each other 1 know each other's views or feelings. 2 be in
agreement or
collusion. øøunderstandable adj. understandably adv. understander n. [OE understandan (as
UNDER-, STAND)]
