Can 'gather' also mean 'understand'?

[english_fan]

Test No. incompl/inter-30 "Flying on a Plane", question 9

As you've probably ........., I'm not really keen on flying.

(a) collected
(b) gathered
(c) assembled
(d) accumulated

Test No. incompl/inter-30 "Flying on a Plane", answer 9

As you've probably gathered, I'm not really keen on flying.

Correct answer: (b) gathered
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So gather also means understand?

[Alan]

Yes, that's right. It can also mean realise/appreciate.
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Present Simple

[Englishfan]

Thank you again Alan.

[Mongolei]

Thank you. I gather its meaning. is it possible to use this word like this?

[Beeesneees]

That's fine, Mongolei.
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"Inside every old person is a young person wondering what happened."
Terry Pratchett

[Mister Micawber]

I gather its meaning.
As you've probably gathered, I'm not really keen on flying.

To me, these suggest that the meaning is not fully understood, but the gist of it is.
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Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's

[Alan]

Hi,

To me 'I gather its meaning' doesn't really make sense. 'Gather' isn't usually used with a direct object except when it is used in its first meaning - 'collect' as in : We gathered some wood from the forest to burn in our stove.

Alan
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English as a Foreign Language
You can read my EFL story Progressive Forms

[ACHCa]

Hmm, but I am still confused, Alan. I read in Oxford dictionary that 'gather' can be used with a direct object as in:

A: There's been a delay.
B: I gathered that.

In this sentence, 'that' is a direct object, isn't it? Just let me know if I am wrong. Thanks