What does "interpolation" mean?
An abrupt change in elements, with continuation of the first idea.
Interpolation
/ɪnˌtɜː.pəˈleɪʃən/ noun
noun ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: An abrupt change in elements, with continuation of the first idea.
- Grammar: interpolation is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: insertion, addition, affix, allonge.
- Useful contrasts: phenotypic extrapolation, downsampling, excision.
- Usage evidence: In Perl, variable interpolation happens in double-quoted strings and patterns, and list interpolation occurs when constructing the list of values to pass to a list operator or other such construct that takes a LIST.
How to use "interpolation"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "interpolation" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "interpolation" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "interpolation" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "interpolation" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "interpolation" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "insertion" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "interpolation", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 An abrupt change in elements, with continuation of the first idea. countable, uncountable
- 2 the action of interjecting or interposing an action or remark that interrupts wordnet
- 3 The process of estimating the value of a function at a point from its values at nearby points. countable, uncountable
- 4 (mathematics) calculation of the value of a function between the values already known wordnet
- 5 The process of interpolating: including and processing externally-fetched data in a document or program. countable, uncountable
"In Perl, variable interpolation happens in double-quoted strings and patterns, and list interpolation occurs when constructing the list of values to pass to a list operator or other such construct that takes a LIST."
Show 3 more definitions
- 6 a message (spoken or written) that is introduced or inserted wordnet
- 7 That which is introduced or inserted; in contexts of content analysis of centuries-old texts, especially something foreign or spurious. countable, uncountable
"Today a widely established convention encloses all editorial interpolations in square brackets [like so] for clarity."
- 8 The use of a melody from a previously recorded song, but recreated rather than sampled from that recording. countable, uncountable
"The melody itself is an interpolation of “The Streets of Cairo,” an Orientalist Tin Pan Alley song originally published in 1895."
Antonyms
Example
"In Perl, variable interpolation happens in double-quoted strings and patterns, and list interpolation occurs when constructing the list of values to pass to a list operator or other such construct that takes a LIST."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "interpolation"?
Common synonyms include: insertion, addition, affix, allonge, appendix, approximation.
How do you use "interpolation" in a sentence?
In Perl, variable interpolation happens in double-quoted strings and patterns, and list interpolation occurs when constructing the list of values to pass to a list operator or other such construct that takes a LIST.
How do you pronounce "interpolation"?
Pronounced /ɪnˌtɜː.pəˈleɪʃən/.
Etymology
From French interpolation, from Latin interpolatio. Morphologically interpolate + -ion.