Word of the Day

: July 23, 2014

interpolate

verb in-TER-puh-layt

What It Means

1 a : to change (as a text) by inserting new or foreign matter

b : to insert (words) into a text or into a conversation

2 : to insert (something) between other things or parts : to make insertions

3 : to estimate values of (data or a function) between two known values

interpolate in Context

"Ellis nicely interpolated a harpsichord solo between Bach's two movements…." - Tom Aldridge, NUVO (Indiana), May 18, 2013

"Most scanners can scan at higher resolutions than their maximum optical resolutions by using software to interpolate more dots per inch, but you really aren't getting any better quality." - Jim Rossman, The Virginian-Pilot, June 23, 2014

Did You Know?

"Interpolate" comes from Latin "interpolare," a verb with various meanings, among them "to refurbish," "to alter," and "to falsify." "Interpolate" entered English in the 17th century and was applied early on to the alteration (and in many cases corruption) of texts by insertion of additional material. Modern use of "interpolate" still sometimes suggests the insertion of something extraneous or spurious, as in "she interpolated her own comments into the report."