emulator

[ em-yuh-ley-ter ]

noun

1. a person or thing that imitates:

   Until quite recently, emulators copied the behaviors of those higher in the social scale than themselves; nowadays, however, people in higher social classes are imitating those in lower ones.

2. Computers. hardware or software designed to imitate a different piece of hardware or a different software system, in order to do the same work or run the same programs:

   These JavaScript emulators allow you to run newer programs on older, incompatible operating systems.

Word History and Origins

Origin of emulator¹

First recorded in 1580–90; from Latin aemulātor “imitator,” equivalent to aemul(us) “vying with” + -ator ( def )

Example Sentences

Billie played it, and I ran it through this old SketchCassette like tape emulator, but again the marriage of this song about a doll and Billie playing a little toy keyboard.

From Los Angeles Times

Mr. Trump was a nonstarter for him, he said, adding that the former president and his emulators were too intransigent.

From New York Times

“We can make emulators of these models and then run them 100 times faster,” Bretherton says.

From Science Magazine

Now, the populist conservatism of former President Donald Trump and his emulators in the Republican Party, reinforced by talk radio and Fox News propaganda, has lured away working-class voters – particularly men without college degrees.

From Seattle Times

While Denuvo’s pretty light on the details, it sounds like it may prevent Switch users from dumping the contents of their games on PC, which they would then run with an emulator.

From The Verge

Related Words

• adversary
• agent
• antagonist
• attacker
• bandit
• competitor
• criminal
• detractor
• foe
• guerrilla
• invader
• murderer
• opponent
• opposition
• prosecutor
• rebel
• rival
• spy
• terrorist
• traitor