EXTRAPOLATION

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does extrapolation mean? 

• EXTRAPOLATION (noun)
  The noun EXTRAPOLATION has 2 senses:

1. (mathematics) calculation of the value of a function outside the range of known values

2. an inference about the future (or about some hypothetical situation) based on known facts and observations

  Familiarity information: EXTRAPOLATION used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• EXTRAPOLATION (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

(mathematics) calculation of the value of a function outside the range of known values

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Hypernyms ("extrapolation" is a kind of...):

calculation; computation; figuring; reckoning (problem solving that involves numbers or quantities)

Domain category:

math; mathematics; maths (a science (or group of related sciences) dealing with the logic of quantity and shape and arrangement)

Derivation:

extrapolate (estimate the value of)

Sense 2

Meaning:

An inference about the future (or about some hypothetical situation) based on known facts and observations

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Hypernyms ("extrapolation" is a kind of...):

illation; inference (the reasoning involved in drawing a conclusion or making a logical judgment on the basis of circumstantial evidence and prior conclusions rather than on the basis of direct observation)

Derivation:

extrapolate (gain knowledge of (an area not known or experienced) by extrapolating)

extrapolate (draw from specific cases for more general cases)

 Context examples 

The percentage of the area under the curve (AUC) extrapolated to infinity that was due to back extrapolation to estimate concentration at time zero, based upon observed values.

(Observed Area Under the Curve Percent Back Extrapolation, NCI Thesaurus)

A monitor's duties may include, but are not limited to, helping to plan and initiate a trial, assessing the conduct of trial, assisting in data analysis, interpretation, and extrapolation.

(Medical Monitor, NCI Thesaurus)

Many earlier attempts to estimate the number of species on Earth ignored microorganisms or were informed by older datasets based on biased techniques or questionable extrapolations.

(Researchers find that Earth may be home to 1 trillion species, NSF)