Standard Lemma guide

interpolate

verb · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ɪnˈtɜː.pəˌleɪt/
  • Canada, General-American: /ɪnˈtɝ.pəˌleɪt/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • Australian: /ɪnˈtɜː.pəˌlæɪt/
  • homophone: interpellate (some pronunciations)
  • CMU ARPABET: IH2 T ER1 P AH0 L EY2 T Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To introduce (something) between other things; especially to insert (possibly spurious) words into a text.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive, transitive

Examples

  • in verse 74, the second line is clearly interpolated, probably by some unknown medieval scribe
  • When interpolating an explanatory gloss, please enclose it in square brackets to make clear that it is interpolated.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To estimate the value of a function between two tabulated points.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: mathematics, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

During the course of processing some data, and in response to a directive in that data, to fetch data from a different source and process it in-line along with the original data.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: computing, engineering, mathematics, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

insert words into texts, often falsifying it thereby

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: alter, falsify

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: edit, redact

5

verb

Meaning 5

estimate the value of

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: extrapolate

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: calculate, cipher, cypher, compute, work out, reckon, figure

History

Etymology

From Latin interpolātus, perfect passive participle of interpolō, see -ate (verb-forming suffix). Compare French interpoler.

Across languages

Translations

19 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: вмъквам (vmǎkvam) — to introduce something, such as words, between other things, such as other words
  • Hungarian: beszúr — to introduce something, such as words, between other things, such as other words
  • Hungarian: közbeszúr — to introduce something, such as words, between other things, such as other words
  • Hungarian: közbeiktat — to introduce something, such as words, between other things, such as other words
  • Hungarian: beékel — to introduce something, such as words, between other things, such as other words
  • Polish: wstawiać — to introduce something, such as words, between other things, such as other words
  • Polish: wstawić — to introduce something, such as words, between other things, such as other words
  • Russian: интерполировать (interpolirovatʹ) — to introduce something, such as words, between other things, such as other words
  • Bulgarian: интерполирам (interpoliram) — to estimate the value of a function
  • Catalan: interpolar — to estimate the value of a function
  • Czech: interpolovat — to estimate the value of a function
  • Finnish: interpoloida — to estimate the value of a function
  • French: interpoler — to estimate the value of a function
  • German: interpolieren — to estimate the value of a function
  • Polish: interpolować — to estimate the value of a function
  • Russian: интерполи́ровать (interpolírovatʹ) — to estimate the value of a function
  • Spanish: interpolar — to estimate the value of a function
  • Tagalog: isalingit — to estimate the value of a function
  • Polish: interpolować — to fetch data from a different source and process it in-line along with the original data