extrapolate
[ ik-strap-uh-leyt ]
/ ɪkˈstræp əˌleɪt /
verb (used with object), ex·trap·o·lat·ed, ex·trap·o·lat·ing.
to infer (an unknown) from something that is known; conjecture.
Statistics.
to estimate (the value of a variable) outside the tabulated or observed range.
Mathematics.
to estimate (a function that is known over a range of values of its independent variable) to values outside the known range.
verb (used without object), ex·trap·o·lat·ed, ex·trap·o·lat·ing.
to perform extrapolation.
Origin of extrapolate
First recorded in 1825–35;
extra- +
(inter)polate
OTHER WORDS FROM extrapolate
ex·trap·o·la·tion, noun ex·trap·o·la·tive, ex·trap·o·la·to·ry [ik-strap-uh-luh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] /ɪkˈstræp ə ləˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i/, adjective ex·trap·o·la·tor, noun o·ver·ex·trap·o·la·tion, nounWORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH extrapolate
deduction extrapolation induction generalization hypothesisWords nearby extrapolate
Example sentences from the Web for extrapolate
British Dictionary definitions for extrapolate
extrapolate
/ (ɪkˈstræpəˌleɪt) /
verb
maths
to estimate (a value of a function or measurement) beyond the values already known, by the extension of a curve
Compare interpolate (def. 4)
to infer (something not known) by using but not strictly deducing from the known facts
Derived forms of extrapolate
extrapolation, noun extrapolative or extrapolatory, adjective extrapolator, nounWord Origin for extrapolate
C19:
extra- +
-polate, as in
interpolate
Scientific definitions for extrapolate
extrapolate
[ ĭk-străp′ə-lāt′ ]
To estimate the value of a quantity that falls outside the range in which its values are known.