emulation

American  

[em-yuh-ley-shuhn] / ˌɛm yəˈleɪ ʃən /

noun

1. effort or desire to equal or excel others.

   Synonyms:

   competition, imitation

2. Obsolete. jealous rivalry.

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emulation British  

/ ˌɛmjʊˈleɪʃən /

noun

1. the act of emulating or imitating

2. the effort or desire to equal or surpass another or others

3. archaic jealous rivalry

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• overemulation
  noun
• nonemulation
  noun

Etymology

Origin of emulation

First recorded in 1545–55, emulation is from the Latin word aemulātiōn- (stem of aemulātiō ). See emulate, -ion

Explanation

Emulation is the effort to act like someone else. Your emulation of your older brother on the tennis court might create a rivalry between you, as you become a better player. Emulation comes from the Latin aemulat- meaning "rivaled, equaled," but we usually use emulation in a non-competitive sense, like the emulation of a role model. Having a role model can be useful. Your emulation of that person can help keep you focused toward your goal. It's when that admiration turns into a competitive obsession that emulation becomes a problem. In computing, emulation is the technique used so one machine gets the same results as another.

Related Words

• simulation