emulation
- 01 C1 Advanced
the act of trying to do something as well as someone you admire.
the effort or ambition to equal or surpass another person, typically through imitation of their positive qualities.
Simple“His hard work at the office is worthy of emulation by the rest of the team.”
In context“The young artist's early works show a clear emulation of the Old Masters, though she eventually developed her own unique style.”
UsageOften follows the verbs 'worthy of' or 'deserving'.
Synonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
when one computer system acts like another so it can run the same software.
the process of simulating the functions of one computer system by another, typically to run software designed for the original system.
Simple“You can use emulation to play old video games on your modern laptop.”
In context“Software emulation allows developers to test mobile applications on a desktop environment without needing the physical handset.”
UsageCommonly used as an uncountable noun in technical contexts.
Synonyms - 03 C2 Proficiency
an old-fashioned word for feeling jealous or competing in a negative way.
ambitious or envious rivalry; a sense of contention between parties.
Simple“The two brothers lived in a state of constant emulation for their father's attention.”
In context“The historian noted that the court was rife with bitter emulation, as each noble sought to undermine the other's standing with the king.”
Teacher's tipThis sense is archaic; modern speakers almost exclusively use 'emulation' to mean positive imitation or technical simulation.
Synonyms
From Middle French émulation, from Latin aemulātiō.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.