Extrapolate

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /É›kˈstræp.É™.leɪt/

Origin

From extra + (inter)polate

Full definition of extrapolate

Verb

1. (transitive) To infer by extending known information.
• Schuster Hepaticae V|viiWith fresh material, taxonomic conclusions are leavened by recognition that the material examined reflects the site it occupied; a herbarium packet gives one only a small fraction of the data desirable for sound conclusions. Herbarium material does not, indeed, allow one to extrapolate safely: what you see is what you get...
2. (transitive, mathematics) To estimate the value of a variable outside a known range from values within that range by assuming that the estimated value follows logically from the known ones

Antonyms

• (mathematics) interpolate

Related terms

• extrapolation
• extrapolator
• extrapolative