ScienceAugust 21, 2026

extrapolated

ek-STRAP-uh-lay-ted

Definition

Applied data or trends from a known situation to an unknown or future situation to project what might happen.

Etymology

Derived from the Latin 'extra' (outside) and 'polire' (to smooth or polish). It originated in 19th-century mathematics to describe the process of inferring values beyond the range of known data points.

In the news

The article uses the word to explain why defining planets based on historical sentiment rather than physics would look silly when projected to future discoveries in other star systems.

20 Years Ago, Pluto Stopped Being A Planet. This Is Why Campaigns To Restore It Aren’t Working

Read the full article ↗

IFLScience

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