comprehend
Definitions
To understand something fully
充分理解，领会
To include or take in within a scope (formal)
包含，涵盖（正式）
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedcom- (fully) + prehend (grasp) = to grasp completely. This is the root's master metaphor: understanding is mentally seizing an idea. When you can't comprehend something, the idea won't let you get a grip on it. The rarer 'include' sense is the same grab, applied to a scope rather than a thought.
Root prehens still carries 16 more wordsCommon Collocations
- 1.fully comprehend完全理解
Example Sentences
- 1.
It took me a while to fully comprehend what she was telling me.
- 2.
He could not comprehend how anyone would do such a thing.
- 3.
The report is too technical for most readers to comprehend.
Synonym Comparison
- comprehend — fully grasp something complex; more formal than understand
- understand — the everyday, neutral word for getting meaning
- grasp — emphasizes catching a difficult point, often suddenly
- fathom — usually negative: 'can't fathom' = can't get to the bottom of
- follow — understand step by step as it unfolds: I couldn't follow the argument