emulator

noun

em·​u·​la·​tor ˈem-yə-ˌlā-tər 

1

: one that emulates

2

: hardware or software that permits programs written for one computer to be run on another computer

Examples of emulator in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

More than 60 emulators are included along with thousands of games from systems like NES, SNES, PlayStation, and Sega Genesis. —Stackcommerce Team, PC Magazine, 22 Sep. 2025

This emulator can also account for how predictions will shift if parameters are merely tweaked by tiny amounts. —Robert Lea, Space.com, 16 Sep. 2025

The technical feat Fonseca pulled off involves a Python script that monitors the game memory through the Dolphin emulator, sends dialogue context to AI models like GPT-5 or Gemini, and writes the responses back into the GameCube's RAM. —ArsTechnica, 12 Sep. 2025

There's a rich community of folks working to get popular emulators running, either natively in SteamOS or via the Wine Windows emulator. —Brad Bourque, Wired News, 4 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin aemulātor, from aemulārī "to vie with, rival, imitate" + -tor, agent suffix — more at emulate entry 1

First Known Use

1589, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for emulator

• activator
• actuator
• agitator
• alligator
• allocator
• alternator
• animator
• annotator
• applicator
• arbitrator
• aspirator
• aviator