emulate
/ˈemjuleɪt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈemjuleɪt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈem-yə-ˌlāt -yü-/ (ame, mw)
emulate — verb
- emulatepresent simple I / you / we / they
- emulateshe / she / it
- emulatedpast simple
- emulating-ing form
1. to try to be as good as someone else by copying the successful things they do or
to try to be as good as someone else by copying the successful things they do or the qualities they show
The young pianist hopes to emulate her teacher's elegant playing style after years of practice.
emulate + person's style / method
Many new technology startups try to emulate the success of companies like Apple and Google.
emulate + abstract achievement (success)
In biology class, the teacher asked students to emulate the careful observation methods of Charles Darwin.
By watching experienced chefs every evening, Luisa learned to emulate their knife skills and plating techniques.
The coach told the young runners to emulate athletes who had overcome serious injuries to win medals.
- ignore
to deliberately pay no attention to someone's example
文法句型
emulate + noun phrase (person, success, style, method)
用法筆記
Often used for admiring imitation — the person being emulated is seen as a role model. The object is typically someone's success, style, method, or personal quality, not a direct copy of a physical thing.
常見錯誤
2. to make a piece of equipment or software behave like a different system by imita
to make a piece of equipment or software behave like a different system by imitating its functions and commands
This free programme can emulate a vintage Nintendo console on any modern laptop computer.
emulate + specific device on + platform
The engineering team developed a microchip that emulates the functions of a much larger processor.
Gamers often use apps that emulate old arcade machines from the nineteen-eighties.
The flight simulator convincingly emulates the cockpit of a Boeing passenger jet for pilot training.
Programmers created a tool that emulates a smartphone operating system so that apps can be tested without a real phone.
文法句型
emulate + noun phrase (system, device, environment)
be emulated on + device
用法筆記
Technical or semi-technical register. The subject is usually a programme, device, or system. Common in passive form: 'The original environment can be emulated on any modern PC.'
常見錯誤
3. to reach the same level of success or performance as someone or something, espec
to reach the same level of success or performance as someone or something, especially after working towards it
After years of steady growth, the company finally emulated the record sales set by its main competitor.
finally emulated + record / achievement
No other runner has ever emulated her gold-medal performance at three consecutive Olympic Games.
The young violinist emulated the technical brilliance of her teacher within just two years of training.
The new hospital aims to emulate the low infection rates of the top medical centres across Europe.
Diego worked extra hours every week to emulate the productivity of the most experienced members on his team.
- fall short of
to fail to reach a required standard
文法句型
emulate + noun phrase (achievement, record, performance)
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: sense 1 focuses on copying a method to achieve success; sense 3 focuses on reaching the same outcome or standard, regardless of method. Often used with 'finally', 'at last', or to describe a milestone reached after sustained effort.
常見錯誤
emulate — adjective
- emulatepositive
- more emulatecomparative
- most emulatesuperlative
1. driven by a desire to compete with others and prove oneself to be as good as or
driven by a desire to compete with others and prove oneself to be as good as or better than them
An emulate spirit filled the Watanabe kitchen when Mei-Lin entered the baking contest her cousin had won.
emulate + spirit (attributive adj before noun)
Tomas felt an emulate fire each time his name sat below colleague Sofia's on the monthly sales leaderboard.
The dance crew's emulate energy kept them rehearsing until midnight after losing the regional championship.
An emulate culture thrived among the young architects, each designer eager to outdo the others' proposals.
Elena's emulate determination drove her to practise piano at dawn before her rival even woke up.
- competitive
much more common and less formal; broader in meaning
- rivalrous
similar register but focuses on the state of competition rather than the desire to match
- uncompetitive
not interested in competing or comparing
用法筆記
Very rare and literary. Almost always modifies nouns like 'attitude', 'spirit', 'culture', 'nature', or 'relationship'. Not used in everyday conversation.