read vs understand

read is a noun but understand is not a noun.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
read	Yes	No	Yes	No
understand	No	No	Yes	No

As verbs, read and understand are synonyms defined as:

Other synonyms of read include interpret, translate.

As verbs, understand is a hypernym of read; that is, understand is a word with a broader meaning than read:

As verbs, understand is a hypernym of read; that is, understand is a word with a broader meaning than read:

read (noun)	understand (noun)
something that is read

read (verb)	understand (verb)
interpret something that is written or printed	know and comprehend the nature or meaning of
look at, interpret, and say out loud something that is written or printed	perceive (an idea or situation) mentally
interpret the significance of, as of palms, tea leaves, intestines, the sky; also of human behavior	believe to be the case
make sense of a language	make sense of a language
be a student of a certain subject	be understanding of
obtain data from magnetic tapes or other digital sources
to hear and understand
interpret something in a certain way; convey a particular meaning or impression
indicate a certain reading; of gauges and instruments
audition for a stage role by reading parts of a role
have or contain a certain wording or form