emulate

verb, adj — 5 senses

emulate

verb

UK /ˈɛm.jʊ.leɪt/ · CA, US /ˈɛm.jə.leɪt/

Etymology First attested in 1586; borrowed from Latin aemulātus, perfect active participle of Latin aemulor (“to rival, emulate”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and -ate (adjective-forming suffix).

1

Archaic To attempt to equal or be the same as.

2

To copy or imitate, especially a person.

  • People are endlessly fascinating, even if you'd never want to emulate them.
  • The Magpies are unbeaten and enjoying their best run since 1994, although few would have thought the class of 2011 would come close to emulating their ancestors.2011 October 1, Saj Chowdhury, “Wolverhampton 1 - 2 Newcastle”, in BBC Sport:
3

Obsolete To feel a rivalry with; to be jealous of, to envy.

  • But the councell then present emulating my successe, would not thinke it fit to spare me fortie men to be hazzarded in those unknowne regions [...].1624, John Smith, Generall Historie, Kupperman, published 1988, page 146:
4

Computing, Engineering, Mathematics, Natural sciences, Physical sciences, Sciences of a program or device: to imitate another program or device

Derived terms
emulable, emulatable, emulation, emulative, emulator, emulatory, unemulated
Related terms
emulation, emulative, emulator, emulous, simulate

emulate

adj

Etymology First attested in 1586; borrowed from Latin aemulātus, perfect active participle of Latin aemulor (“to rival, emulate”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and -ate (adjective-forming suffix).

1

Obsolete Striving to excel, ambitious, emulous.

  • That can I, At leaſt the whiſper goes ſo : Our laſt King, Whoſe Image euen but novv appear'd to vs, VVas (as you know) by Fortinbras of Norvvay, (Thereto prick’d on by a moſt emulate Pride) Dar’d to the Combate.c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i], pages 152-153, column 1:
Related terms
copy, imitate, mimic, simulate

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.

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