emulation

noun

em·​u·​la·​tion ˌem-yə-ˈlā-shən 

-yü-

1

: ambition or endeavor to equal or excel others (as in achievement)

2

a

: imitation

b

: the use of or technique of using an emulator

3

obsolete : ambitious or envious rivalry

emulative

ˈem-yə-ˌlā-tiv 

adjective

emulatively adverb

Examples of emulation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

It’s instead designed to play games through software emulation. —Andrew Liszewski, The Verge, 6 Dec. 2024

That doesn’t mean that different sports — with so much variance in accessibility, visibility, and emulation — don’t have different strata of impact. —Matthew Futterman, The Athletic, 25 Aug. 2024

Sega has offered its retro games on the iPhone before in emulation but with a standalone app for each game. —Samuel Axon, Ars Technica, 5 Apr. 2024

So far, the company has built a proof-of-concept emulation that shows its universal processor works, with today’s fund-raising enabling it to move forward to a working prototype in 2025. —David Prosser, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin aemulātiōn-, aemulātiō, from aemulārī "to vie with, rival, imitate" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at emulate entry 1

First Known Use

1542, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Kids Definition

emulation

noun

em·​u·​la·​tion ˌem-yə-ˈlā-shən 

: the ambition or effort to emulate

emulative

ˈem-yə-ˌlāt-iv 

adjective