Meaning

verb strive to equal or match, especially by imitating

verb imitate the function of (another system), as by modifying the hardware or the software

verb compete with successfully; approach or reach equality with

originFirst attested in 1586; borrowed from Latin aemulātus, perfect active participle of Latin aemulor (“to rival, emulate”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and -ate (adjective-forming suffix).

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0