simulation

C1 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /ˌsɪm.jəˈleɪ.ʃn̩/ UK /ˌsɪm.jʊˈleɪ.ʃn̩/ See IPA manual

Freq #13170

Meanings

1

noun
The act of copying a real situation or process, often to study or practice it.

This exercise is a simulation of actual battle conditions.
2

noun
A computer model that imitates a real system in order to predict how it will behave.

Despite extensive simulation in the design phase, the aircraft failed to behave as expected.
3

noun
A video game that recreates a realistic experience, such as a sport or flying a plane.

He spends hours playing a flight simulation on his computer.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

2 noun · a computer model that... computer simulation

More imitation replica

Word family

Forms simulations

Derived forms biosimulationbisimulationcosimulationhydrosimulationmacrosimulationnonsimulationphotosimulationpostsimulationpresimulationresimulationsemisimulationsim

Related forms simulator

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

computer simulation
a computer-based model used to imitate a real situation or process

Noun + noun

Etymology

First attested in 1340 as Middle English symulacioun, from Middle French simulation, from Old French simulation/simulacion, from Latin simulātiōnem, from simulō (“imitate”). Morphologically simulate + -ion.

*sem- Proto-Indo-European symulacioun Middle English simulation Middle French simulātiōnem Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# simulation

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˌsɪm.jəˈleɪ.ʃn̩/
**IPA (UK):** /ˌsɪm.jʊˈleɪ.ʃn̩/
**Frequency rank:** 13170

## Meanings
1. The act of copying a real situation or process, often to study or practice it.
2. A computer model that imitates a real system in order to predict how it will behave.
3. A video game that recreates a realistic experience, such as a sport or flying a plane.

## Examples
- This exercise is a simulation of actual battle conditions.
- Despite extensive simulation in the design phase, the aircraft failed to behave as expected.
- He spends hours playing a flight simulation on his computer.

## Synonyms
- imitation
- replica

## Derived Forms
- biosimulation
- bisimulation
- cosimulation
- hydrosimulation
- macrosimulation
- nonsimulation
- photosimulation
- postsimulation
- presimulation
- resimulation
- semisimulation
- sim

## Related Forms
- simulator

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *sem-
- Root: symulacioun
- Root: simulation
- Root: simulātiōnem

## Etymology
First attested in 1340 as Middle English symulacioun, from Middle French simulation, from Old French simulation/simulacion, from Latin simulātiōnem, from simulō (“imitate”). Morphologically simulate + -ion.

## AI Etymology
Simulation is first attested in 1340 as Middle English symulacioun, from Middle French simulation, from Old French simulation/simulacion, from Latin simulātiōnem, from simulō (“imitate”). Morphologically simulate + -ion. The historical chain includes *sem- (Proto-Indo-European), symulacioun (Middle English), simulation (Middle French), simulation (Old French), and simulātiōnem (Latin). The surrounding word family includes derived forms such as biosimulation, bisimulation, cosimulation, and hydrosimulation and related forms such as simulator. In present use it covers the act of copying a real situation or process, often to study or practice it, a computer model that imitates a real system in order to predict how it will behave, and a video game that recreates a realistic experience, such as a sport or flying a plane.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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