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extrapolate

Syllabification: (ex·trap·o·late)
Pronunciation: /ikˈstrapəˌlāt/
Translate extrapolate | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of extrapolate

verb

[with object]
  • extend the application of (a method or conclusion, especially one based on statistics) to an unknown situation by assuming that existing trends will continue or similar methods will be applicable:the results cannot be extrapolated to other patient groups [no object]:it is always dangerous to extrapolate from a sample
  • estimate or conclude (something) by extrapolating:attempts to extrapolate likely human cancers from laboratory studies
  • Mathematics extend (a graph, curve, or range of values) by inferring unknown values from trends in the known data: (as adjective extrapolated)a set of extrapolated values

Derivatives

extrapolation

noun

extrapolative

Pronunciation: /-ˌlātiv/
adjective

extrapolator

Pronunciation: /-ˌlātər/
noun

Origin:

late 19th century: from extra- 'outside' + a shortened form of interpolate

extrapolate in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of extrapolate in the British & World English dictionary
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