infer

v.

1. To reach a conclusion

   conclude, deduce, gather, judge, come to the conclusion that, draw the inference that, induce, conjecture, arrive at, reason, construe, understand, assume, reckon, read between the lines; see also assume 1, reason 2, understand 1.

2. To assume

   suppose, presume, presuppose; see assume 1.

3. To imply

   insinuate, suggest, indicate, mean to say*; see hint 1.

infer suggests the arriving at a decision or opinion by reasoning from known facts or evidence from your smile, I infer that you're pleased; deduce, in strict discrimination, implies inference from a general principle by logical reasoning the method was deduced from earlier experiments; conclude strictly implies an inference that is the final logical result in a process of reasoning I must, therefore, conclude that you are wrong; judge stresses the careful checking and weighing of premises, etc. in arriving at a conclusion; gather is an informal substitute for infer or concludeI gather that you don't care