interpolate

C2 Topic:Mathematics & Measurement

US /ɪnˈtɝ.pəˌleɪt/ UK /ɪnˈtɜː.pəˌleɪt/ See IPA manual

Freq #149584

Meanings

1

verb
to insert words or other material into a text, especially material added later or regarded as spurious

A medieval copyist may have chosen to interpolate the explanatory sentence.
2

verb
mathematics and computing: to estimate an intermediate value from known values on either side

The software can interpolate the temperature between two recorded measurements.
3

verb
to introduce something between other things or into the middle of a sequence

The editor decided to interpolate a brief note between the two chapters.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to insert words or other... insert interpose

2 verb · mathematics and computing:... estimate calculate

3 verb · to introduce something... insert interject interpose

Opposites

remove omit

Word family

Forms interpolatinginterpolative

Derived forms interpolatorinterpolatorymisinterpolatenoninterpolatednoninterpolatingreinterpolateuninterpolated

Related forms extrapolate interpolation

Etymology

From Latin interpolatus, the past participle of interpolare ("to alter, refurbish, or falsify"). The textual sense developed around later insertions into manuscripts; mathematics extended the word to values inserted between known data points.

Topics

Mathematics & Measurement

External links

# interpolate

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /ɪnˈtɝ.pəˌleɪt/
**IPA (UK):** /ɪnˈtɜː.pəˌleɪt/
**Frequency rank:** 149584

## Meanings
1. to insert words or other material into a text, especially material added later or regarded as spurious
2. mathematics and computing: to estimate an intermediate value from known values on either side
3. to introduce something between other things or into the middle of a sequence

## Examples
- A medieval copyist may have chosen to interpolate the explanatory sentence.
- The software can interpolate the temperature between two recorded measurements.
- The editor decided to interpolate a brief note between the two chapters.

## Synonyms
- insert
- interpose
- interject
- estimate

## Antonyms
- remove
- omit

## Derived Forms
- interpolator
- interpolatory
- misinterpolate
- noninterpolated
- noninterpolating
- reinterpolate
- uninterpolated

## Related Forms
- extrapolate
- interpolation

## Etymology
From Latin interpolatus, the past participle of interpolare ("to alter, refurbish, or falsify"). The textual sense developed around later insertions into manuscripts; mathematics extended the word to values inserted between known data points.

## Topics
- Mathematics & Measurement

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