inference vs abstract thought

inference and abstract thought both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
inference	Yes	No	No	No
abstract thought	Yes	No	No	No

As nouns, abstract thought is a hypernym of inference; that is, abstract thought is a word with a broader meaning than inference:

inference: the reasoning involved in drawing a conclusion or making a logical judgment on the basis of circumstantial evidence and prior conclusions rather than on the basis of direct observation
abstract thought: thinking that is coherent and logical

Other hypernyms of inference include logical thinking, reasoning.

inference (noun)	abstract thought (noun)
the reasoning involved in drawing a conclusion or making a logical judgment on the basis of circumstantial evidence and prior conclusions rather than on the basis of direct observation	thinking that is coherent and logical