explain vs interpret

explain

verb
  • To make plain, manifest, or intelligible; to clear of obscurity; to illustrate the meaning of. 

  • To give a valid excuse for past behavior. 

  • To make something plain or intelligible. 

interpret

verb
  • To explain or tell the meaning of; to translate orally into intelligible or familiar language or terms. applied especially to language, but also to dreams, signs, conduct, mysteries, etc. 

  • To convey what a user of one language is saying or signing, in real time or shortly after that person has finished communicating, to a user of a different language 

  • To analyse or execute (a program) by reading the instructions as they are encountered, rather than compiling in advance. 

  • To apprehend and represent by means of art; to show by illustrative representation 

  • To decode the meaning of a topic and then act, whether to continue researching the topic, follow through, act in opposition, or further the understanding through sharing an interpretation. 

How often have the words explain and interpret occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )