Tra từ understand - Từ điển Oxford Advanced Learner 8th

under·stand [understand understands understood understanding] BrE [ˌʌndəˈstænd] NAmE [ˌʌndərˈstænd] verb (under·stood, under·stoodBrE [ˌʌndəˈstʊd] ; NAmE [ˌʌndərˈstʊd] )(not used in the progressive tenses)

MEANING
1. transitive, intransitive to know or realize the meaning of words, a language, what sb says, etc
•~ (sth) Can you understand French?
• Do you understand the instructions?
•She didn't understand the form she was signing.
•I'm not sure that I understand. Go over it again.
•I don't want you doing that again. Do you understand?
•~ what… I don't understand what he's saying.

HOW STH WORKS/HAPPENS
2. transitive, intransitive to know or realize how or why sth happens, how it works or why it is important
•~ (sth) Doctors still don't understand much about the disease.
• No one is answering the phone— I can't understand it.
•~ why, what, etc… I could never understand why she was fired.
•They're too young to understand what is happening.
•~ sb/sth doing sth I just can't understand him taking the money.
• (formal)I just can't understand his taking the money.
•~ that… He was the first to understand that we live in a knowledge economy.

KNOW SB
3. transitive, intransitive to know sb's character, how they feel and why they behave in the way they do
•~ sb Nobody understands me.
• He doesn't understand women at all.
•We understand each other, even if we don't always agree.
•~ what, how, etc… They understand what I have been through.
•I understand how hard things have been for you.
•~ (that…) I quite understand that you need some time alone.
•If you want to leave early, I'm sure he'll understand.
•~ sb doing sth I quite understand you needing some time alone.

THINK/BELIEVE
4. transitive (formal)to think or believe that sth is true because you have been told that it is
•~ (that)… I understand (that) you wish to see the manager.
•Am I to understand that you refuse?
•~ sb/sth to be/have sth The Prime Minister is understood to have been extremely angry about the report.
•it is understood that… It is understood that the band are working on their next album.

BE AGREED
5. transitive it is understood that… to agree sth with sb without it needing to be said
•I thought it was understood that my expenses would be paid.

MISSING WORD
6. transitive, usually passive ~ sth to realize that a word in a phrase or sentence is not expressed and to supply it in your mind
•In the sentence ‘I can't drive’, the object ‘a car’ is understood.
more at give sb to believe/understand at ↑give _v.
Idiom: ↑make yourself understood
Verb forms:

Word Origin:
Old English understandan (see ↑under-, ↑stand).

Word Family:
understand verb (≠ misunderstand)
understandable adjective
misunderstood adjective
understanding adjective noun (≠ misunderstanding)

Synonyms:
understand
see • get • follow • grasp • comprehend
These words all mean to know or realize sth, for example why sth happens, how sth works or what sth means.
understand • to know or realize the meaning of words, a language, what sb says, etc; to know or realize how or why sth happens, how it works or why it is important: ▪ I don't understand the instructions. ◇ ▪ Doctors still don't understand much about the disease.
see • to understand what is happening, what sb is saying, how sth works or how important sth is: ▪ ‘It opens like this.’ ‘ Oh, ▪ I see ▪.’ ◇ ▪ Oh yes, ▪ I see what you mean ▪.
get • (informal) to understand a joke, what sb is trying to tell you, or a situation that they are trying to describe: ▪ She didn't get the joke. ◇ ▪ I don't get you.
follow • to understand an explanation, a story or the meaning of sth: ▪ Sorry— I don't quite follow. ◇ ▪ The plot is almost impossible to follow.
grasp • to come to understand a fact, an idea or how to do sth: ▪ They failed to grasp the importance of his words.
understand or grasp?
You can use understand or grasp for the action of realizing the meaning or importance of sth for the first time: ▪ It's a difficult concept for children to understand/grasp. Only understand can be used to talk about languages, words or writing: I don't grasp French/the instructions.
comprehend • (often used in negative statements) (formal) to understand a fact, idea or reason: ▪ The concept of infinity is almost impossible for the human mind to comprehend.
to understand/see/get/follow/grasp/comprehend what/why/how…
to understand/see/grasp/comprehend that…
to understand/see/get/grasp the point/idea (of sth)
to be easy/difficult/hard to understand/see/follow/grasp/comprehend
to fully understand/see/grasp/comprehend sth

Example Bank:
•Her behaviour wounded him in a way he did not really understand.
•I can't understand what all the fuss is about.
•I could barely understand a word of his story.
•I don't claim to understand it.
•I finally understood what she meant.
•I fully understand the reason for your decision.
•If I've understood you correctly…
•It is difficult to understand why he reacted in that way.
•Only specialists can hope to understand them.
•She intuitively understood his need to be alone.
•She realized that she had never properly understood him.
•She soon learnt to understand English.
•The effects of these chemicals on the body are still poorly understood.
•The girl understands immediately and promises to be more careful.
•The reasons for this decision are not easily understood.
•These beliefs are best understood as a form of escapism.
•These categories help us to better understand our readers.
•They won't necessarily understand the pros and cons of the matter.
•We came to understand why certain things happened in certain ways.
•We understand little about this disease.
•What is generally understood by ‘democracy’?
•a complex topic which I only partially understand
•a woman struggling to understand an incomprehensible situation
•Do you understand French?
•Doctors still don't understand much about the disease.
•He couldn't understand what she was saying.
•He doesn't understand women at all.
•I don't understand the instructions.
•I don't want you doing that again. Do you understand?
•I just can't understand him taking the money.
•If you want to leave early, I'm sure he'll understand.
•It's understood that the band are already working on their next album.
•She said she didn't understand the form she was signing.
•She understood that this was her last chance.
•The disease is still not fully understood.
•The prime minister is understood to have been extremely angry about the report.
•We understand each other, even if we don't always agree.