emulate

[ verb em-yuh-leyt; adjective em-yuh-lit ]

verb (used with object)

, em·u·lat·ed, em·u·lat·ing.

1. to try to equal or excel; imitate with effort to equal or surpass:

   to emulate one's father as a concert violinist.

   Synonyms: copy, follow

2. to rival with some degree of success:

   Some smaller cities now emulate the major capitals in their cultural offerings.

3. Computers.
   1. to imitate (a particular computer system) by using a software system, often including a microprogram or another computer that enables it to do the same work, run the same programs, etc., as the first.
   2. to replace (software) with hardware to perform the same task.

adjective

1. Obsolete. emulous.

emulate

/ ˈɛmjʊˌleɪt /

verb

1. to attempt to equal or surpass, esp by imitation
2. to rival or compete with
3. to make one computer behave like (another different type of computer) so that the imitating system can operate on the same data and execute the same programs as the imitated system

Derived Forms

• ˈemuˌlator, noun
• ˈemulatively, adverb
• ˈemulative, adjective

Other Words From

• em·u·la·tive adjective
• em·u·la·tive·ly adverb
• em·u·la·tor noun
• non·em·u·la·tive adjective
• o·ver·em·u·late verb (used with object) overemulated overemulating
• un·em·u·la·tive adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of emulate¹

First recorded in 1580–90; from Latin aemulātus, past participle of aemulārī “to rival”; emulous, -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of emulate¹

C16: from Latin aemulārī, from aemulus competing with; probably related to imitārī to imitate

Example Sentences

He also observed that cheesemakers in Russia have been boosting production and attempting to emulate types of European cheese.

From BBC

Perhaps Trump’s greatest con of all, abetted by the enablers and grifters of the so-called manosphere, has been to sell young men on the idea that he is a manly guy, someone to emulate.

From Salon

Perhaps Trump’s greatest con of all, abetted by the enablers and grifters of the "manosphere," has been to sell young men on the idea that he is a manly guy, someone to emulate.

From Salon

Trump also reportedly wished that he could emulate Hitler in commanding total obedience from the military.

From Salon

Militant Irish republicans had been paying close attention to Carson’s tactics — which anticipated Mao Zedong’s maxim about the source of political power — and would eagerly emulate his example in the years ahead.

From Salon

Related Words

• follow suit
• imitate
• mimic
• mirror