simulation
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
a model of a real situation, often on a computer, used to see what might happen.
a computer model or mathematical representation of a system used to predict or analyse behaviour.
Simple“The pilots spent hours in a flight simulation to prepare for the storm.”
In context“The research team ran a complex computer simulation to determine how the new bridge would react to extreme wind speeds.”
UsageOften used with 'run' or 'perform'.
- 02 B1 Intermediate
a type of video game that tries to copy real-life activities like driving or flying.
a genre of video game designed to mimic real-world activities with a high degree of technical accuracy.
Simple“He enjoys playing a racing simulation because the car handling feels very real.”
In context“Modern flight simulations offer such high fidelity that they are frequently used as supplementary tools for student pilots.”
SynonymsAntonymsarcade game - 03 C1 Advanced
the act of pretending to be tripped or hurt in a game to trick the referee.
the act of feigning a fall or injury in order to deceive an official into awarding a foul or penalty.
Simple“The player received a yellow card for simulation after falling in the penalty area.”
In context“The referee was praised for his ability to distinguish between a genuine foul and a clever piece of simulation by the striker.”
UsageCommonly used in professional football (soccer) contexts.
Synonymsdivingfeigning - 04 C2 Proficiency
the act of pretending to have a feeling or a physical condition.
the act of feigning or assuming a false appearance; a deceptive imitation of a state or quality.
Simple“Her smile was a mere simulation of happiness to hide her true feelings.”
In context“The spy's successful simulation of a local merchant allowed him to move through the city without drawing any suspicion from the guards.”
Usage simulations showed · simulations to examine
“The team is now trying to further improve their simulation tools to achieve even higher accuracy and increase the size of simulated systems.”
“According to the simulation, when ant density, speed and distance were just right, one ant's movement was all that was needed to nudge a large portion of the group into motion.”
First attested in 1340 as Middle English symulacioun, from Middle French simulation, from Old French simulation/simulacion, from Latin simulātiōnem, from simulō (“imitate”). Morphologically simulate + -ion.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.