to try to equal or excel; imitate with effort to equal or surpass: to emulate one's father as a concert violinist.
2.
to rival with some degree of success: Some smaller cities now emulate the major capitals in their cultural offerings.
3.
Computers.
a.
to imitate (a particular computer system) by using a software system, often including a microprogram or another computer that enables it to do the same work, run the same programs, etc., as the first.
b.
to replace (software) with hardware to perform the same task.
To strive to equal or excel, especially through imitation: an older pupil whose accomplishments and style I emulated.
To compete with successfully; approach or attain equality with.
Computer Science To imitate the function of (another system), as by modifications to hardware or software that allow the imitating system to accept the same data, execute the same programs, and achieve the same results as the imitated system.
adj.
Obsolete (-lĭt) Ambitious; emulous.
[Latin aemulārī, aemulāt-, from aemulus, emulous; see emulous.] em'u·la'tive adj., em'u·la'tive·ly adv., em'u·la'tor n.
[v. em-yuh-leyt; adj. em-yuh-lit] 
verb, -lat⋅ed, -lat⋅ing, adjective 
yəˌleɪt