emulator

noun

em·​u·​la·​tor ˈem-yə-ˌlā-tər How to pronounce emulator (audio)
1
: one that emulates
2
: hardware or software that permits programs written for one computer to be run on another computer

Examples of emulator in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Nintendo also says the developers have clearly extracted Nintendo Switch games themselves, bypassing encryption, in order to test their own emulator. Sean Hollister, The Verge, 27 Feb. 2024 In that case, the Dolphin emulator's weakness to potential action under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act's anti-circumvention provisions was its use of a proprietary cryptographic key from the Wii. Kevin Purdy, Ars Technica, 12 Jan. 2024 The Steam launch of Dolphin, an open-source emulator for the Wii and the GameCube, has been delayed indefinitely (via PC Gamer). Wes Davis, The Verge, 29 May 2023 While Android has emulators for retro consoles and a few exclusive titles, the iPhone experience is almost universally better for almost all games. Samuel Axon, Ars Technica, 21 Nov. 2023 The emulator will still be great for testing, though. Ron Amadeo, Ars Technica, 31 Oct. 2023 But the source code remains available, and Arcangel has granted the museum permission to use a Nintendo emulator to show the work. Evan Moffitt Daniel Terna, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2023 Rather than keep stockpiles of expensive and obsolete technology in storage, museums have to find clever ways around software updates, from video game emulators to server farms to niche businesses like CTL. Evan Moffitt Daniel Terna, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2023 Programmers can scale down emulators (computers programmed to act like other computers) to emulate the SLS vehicle, the rocket and the capsule. Lee Roop | Lroop@al.com, al, 18 Aug. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'emulator.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin aemulātor, from aemulārī "to vie with, rival, imitate" + -tor, agent suffix — more at emulate entry 1

First Known Use

1589, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of emulator was in 1589

Dictionary Entries Near emulator

Cite this Entry

“Emulator.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/emulator. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

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