emulate
to try to equal or surpass
Root
- aemul: imitate, rival, strive to equal, or try to surpass
Other words with the aemul root
- emulator: a program or device that imitates another system
Emulate is rivalry turned into effort: you study the model because you want to match or exceed it.
The young scientist tried to emulate her mentor without copying her style.
Aemulus carried rivalry. Emulate is not mere imitation. There is aspiration inside it: someone sees a standard and tries to rise to it.