What is the difference between "comprehend" and "understand"? [closed]

Solution 1:

According to the dictionary, comprehend simply means understand, but to me the connotations are slightly different. Comprehend seems more "comprehensive" --I would describe it as a deeper and more complete level of understanding.

I also see comprehend as dealing more with ability, the mental capacity to grasp something. For instance, I would say "I understand French, I comprehend physics." In terms of French, I either know what the words mean or I don't, it's (arguably) not a conceptual leap. For physics, I actually need to see the world in a different way.

You might say that a child comprehends a lesson, but only if it represents an actual conceptual advance, not just memorization.

Solution 2:

You can.....

Comprehend is a verb that originates from the Latin word comprehendere, which means “catch or seize.”

• When an idea is clear to you and you understand it completely, you comprehend it.
• to take in or embrace; include; comprise.

.....Education is to help students understand the how's and why's. All complicated subjects need you to practice and think. Understanding requires knowledge and thought.

• Another kind of understanding is like sympathy. For example, you might not approve of stealing, but you could understand why a guy would steal to feed his family.

Solution 3:

I would say that they're more or less the same, however used in different contexts.

I comprehended a lesson

doesn't quite make sense for me; I would say that the differences are solely contextual.

I understood the lesson

Makes sense to me

However, note that it depends on what you mean by lesson: if you're talking about a lesson as in school, this would make sense, however if you are speaking of a lesson as in he's learned his lesson this wouldn't be appropriate.