word | comprehend |
---|---|
definition | (1) To grasp the meaning of; understand. (2) To take in or include. |
eg_sentence | In the days following the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, the public slowly began to comprehend the fact that the nuclear age had arrived. |
explanation | To comprehend is to mentally grasp something's complete nature or meaning. Comprehend is thus often a bit stronger than understand: for example, you may understand the instructions in a handbook without completely comprehending their purpose. Comprehend's second meaning is much less common. Using that sense of the word, we could say that good manners comprehends (that is, includes) more than simple table etiquette, for example, or that true courage comprehends more than just physical showing off. And something comprehensive includes a great deal: so a comprehensive exam, for instance, includes all the material that was studied in the course. |
IPA | ˌkɑmpriˈhɛnd |
Tags: mwvb::unit:20, mwvb::unit:20:word, mwvb::word, mwvb::word-cloze, mwvb::word-reverse, obsidian_to_anki
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