transitive verb interpolated -·lat′ed, interpolating -·lat′·ing

1. to alter, enlarge, or corrupt (a book or manuscript, etc.) by putting in new words, subject matter, etc.
2. to insert between or among others; specif., to insert (a word or words) in a text
3. Math. to estimate (a missing functional value) by taking a weighted average of known functional values at neighboring points, as in estimating a specific, missing intermediate value on a table, esp. a logarithmic or trigonometric table

Etymology: < L interpolatus, pp. of interpolare, to polish, dress up, corrupt < interpolis, altered by furbishing, repaired < inter-, between + polire, to polish

intransitive verb