interpolation

C2+ Topic:Abstract Ideas

US /ɪnˌtɝpəˈleɪʃən/ UK /ɪnˌtɜːpəˈleɪʃən/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

noun
the insertion of something extra, or estimation of values between known points

Scholars suspect the passage is a later interpolation by a copyist.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · the insertion of something... insertion interjectioninterpellationestimation addition

Opposites

extrapolation

Word family

Related forms interpolateinterpolator

Etymology

From Latin interpolatio, from interpolare ('to refurbish, alter, falsify'), from inter- ('between') + polire ('to polish').

interpolare Latin polire Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Abstract Ideas Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# interpolation

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ɪnˌtɝpəˈleɪʃən/
**IPA (UK):** /ɪnˌtɜːpəˈleɪʃən/

## Meanings
1. the insertion of something extra, or estimation of values between known points

## Examples
- Scholars suspect the passage is a later interpolation by a copyist.

## Synonyms
- insertion
- interjection
- interpellation
- estimation
- addition

## Antonyms
- extrapolation

## Related Forms
- interpolate
- interpolator

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: interpolare
- Root: polire

## Etymology
From Latin interpolatio, from interpolare ('to refurbish, alter, falsify'), from inter- ('between') + polire ('to polish').

## AI Etymology
interpolation comes from Latin interpolatio, from interpolare ('to refurbish, alter, falsify'), from inter- ('between') + polire ('to polish'). Morphologically, the prefixed shape matters: the initial element belongs to the recorded formation and helps explain the modern form's surface analysis. In present English, the noun sense is "the insertion of something extra, or estimation of values between known points", so the historical development ends in a clearly identifiable modern dictionary use. The same base also appears in related forms such as interpolate and interpolator. Its semantic neighborhood includes insertion, interjection, interpellation, and estimation, which helps locate the modern sense without adding a separate etymological claim. The named historical forms include Latin interpolare and Latin polire.

## Topics
- Abstract Ideas
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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