interpolate

[ in-tur-puh-leyt ]

verb (used with object)

, in·ter·po·lat·ed, in·ter·po·lat·ing.

1. to introduce (something additional or extraneous) between other things or parts; interject; interpose; intercalate.
2. Mathematics. to insert, estimate, or find an intermediate term in (a sequence).
3. to alter (a text) by the insertion of new matter, especially deceptively or without authorization.
4. to insert (new or spurious matter) in this manner.

verb (used without object)

, in·ter·po·lat·ed, in·ter·po·lat·ing.

1. to make an interpolation.

interpolate

/ ɪnˈtɜːpəˌleɪt /

verb

1. to insert or introduce (a comment, passage, etc) into (a conversation, text, etc)
2. to falsify or alter (a text, manuscript, etc) by the later addition of (material, esp spurious or valueless passages)
3. intr to make additions, interruptions, or insertions
4. maths to estimate (a value of a function) between the values already known or determined Compare extrapolate

Derived Forms

• inˈterpoˌlater, noun
• inˈterpolative, adjective

Other Words From

• in·ter·po·la·ble [in-, tur, -p, uh, -l, uh, -b, uh, l], adjective
• in·terpo·later in·terpo·lator noun
• in·ter·po·la·to·ry [in-, tur, -p, uh, -l, uh, -tawr-ee, -tohr-ee], in·terpo·lative adjective
• in·terpo·lative·ly adverb
• nonin·terpo·lating adjective
• nonin·terpo·lative adjective
• unin·terpo·lated adjective
• unin·terpo·lative adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of interpolate¹

First recorded in 1605–15; from Latin interpolātus, past participle of interpolāre “to make new, refurbish, touch up,” equivalent to inter- “between, among, together” + -polā- verb stem (akin to polīre “to polish”) + -tus past participle suffix; inter-, polish

Word History and Origins

Origin of interpolate¹

C17: from Latin interpolāre to give a new appearance to, from inter- + polīre to polish

Example Sentences

I have no idea, but when somebody wants to interpolate or whatever it’s called, I never object because I always learn something about the song that I hadn’t known or anticipated.

From Los Angeles Times

“Defendants did not seek or receive permission to copy or interpolate any portion of ‘When I Was Your Man’ into ‘Flowers,’” the lawsuit adds.

From Los Angeles Times

A NeRF encodes the geometry of a scene into the weights of a neural network, which gives the model a strong ability to interpolate, or estimate, novel views of a scene.

From Science Daily

Olsen: The song itself is interpolated in the score during the movie, and there’s even a sequence of credit created using home video footage from some of the cast and crew.

From Los Angeles Times

“Her outstanding skill is an ability to interpolate amusing, semi-improvised commentary within songs, in a variety of musical styles, that turns them into personal testimony,” he wrote in 1987.

From New York Times