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Understanding is a psychological state in relation to an object or person whereby one is able to think about it and use concepts to be able to deal adequately with that object.
For example, I understand the whether if I am able to predict and give an explanation of some of its features.
Or, a psychiatrist understands another person if he knows his anxieties and their causes, and can give him useful advice on how to minimise the anxiety.
I understand a command if I know who gave it, what is expected, and whether the command is legitimate.
Also one can understand a reasoning, an argument, and a language.
See also knowledge, epistemology, awareness, meaning and thought.
For a discussion of where understanding takes place and the what the limits of understanding are, see the Chinese Room argument.
Understanding is also the name of a poem by Andrew Bottomley shown below
Understanding
Don't have a clue
About where to go
About what to do
Life forced upon me
From the gloomiest place
Look in the mirror
Can't see my face
Lost in the sadness
Lost in the dark
Its finally over
The end of life's lark
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