Emulation

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Emulation \Em`u*la"tion\, n. [L. aemulatio: cf. F.
     ['e]mulation.]
     1. The endeavor to equal or to excel another in qualities or
        actions; an assiduous striving to equal or excel another;
        rivalry.
        [1913 Webster]


  
              A noble emulation heats your breast.  --Dryden.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. Jealous rivalry; envy; envious contention.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Such factious emulations shall arise. --Shak.
  
     3. imitation (of an admired model) for the purpose of
        improving one's own qualities.
        [PJC]
  
              [Chivalry was] an ideal which, if never met with in
              real life, was acknowledged by all as the highest
              model for emulation.                  --Thomas
                                                    Bulfinch
                                                    (Mythology)
        [PJC]
  
     4. (Computers) the imitation of the actions of a computer
        system or component, especially a processor, by means of a
        computer program, with the goal of predicting the behavior
        and performance characteristics of that system without
        actually manufacturing it.
        [PJC]
  
              1996 marked the year that emulation became a
              mainstream design verification tool.  --Computer
                                                    Design
                                                    (editorial,
                                                    1998)
  
     Syn: Competition; rivalry; contest; contention; strife. --
          {Emulation}, {Competition}, {Rivalry}. Competition is
          the struggle of two or more persons for the same object.
          Emulation is an ardent desire for superiority, arising
          from competition, but now implying, of necessity, any
          improper feeling. Rivalry is a personal contest, and,
          almost of course, has a selfish object and gives rise to
          envy. "Competition and emulation have honor for their
          basis; rivalry is but a desire for selfish
          gratification. Competition and emulation animate to
          effort; rivalry usually produces hatred. Competition and
          emulation seek to merit success; rivalry is contented
          with obtaining it." --Crabb.
          [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  emulation
       n 1: ambition to equal or excel
       2: (computer science) technique of one machine obtaining the
          same results as another
       3: effort to equal or surpass another

From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (27 SEP 03) [foldoc]:

  emulation
       
           When one system performs in exactly the same
          way as another, though perhaps not at the same speed.  A
          typical example would be emulation of one computer by (a
          program running on) another.  You might use an emulation as a
          replacement for a system whereas you would use a simulation if
          you just wanted to analyse it and make predictions about it.
       
          (2003-05-22)