Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Emulate \Em"u*late\, a. [L. aemulatus, p. p. of aemulari, fr.
   aemulus emulous; prob. akin to E. imitate.]
   Striving to excel; ambitious; emulous. [Obs.] ``A most
   emulate pride.'' --Shak.

Emulate \Em"u*late\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Emulated}; p. pr. &
   vb. n. {Emulating}.]
   To strive to equal or to excel in qualities or actions; to
   imitate, with a view to equal or to outdo, to vie with; to
   rival; as, to emulate the good and the great.

         Thine eye would emulate the diamond.     --Shak.

Source : WordNet®

emulate
     v 1: strive to equal or match, especially by imitating; "He is
          emulating the skating skills of his older sister"
     2: imitate the function of (another system), as by modifying
        the hardware or the software
     3: compete with successfully; approach or reach equality with;
        "This artists's drawings cannot emulate his water colors"