Emulate vs. Collect: What's the Difference?
Edited by Aimie Carlson || By Harlon Moss || Updated on November 9, 2023
To emulate is to imitate with the intent to equal or surpass; to collect is to gather items or accumulate them over time.
Key Differences
"Emulate" involves striving to match or excel by imitating, whereas "collect" refers to the act of gathering objects or items, often of a particular type or for a specific purpose. While emulation is a behavior driven by admiration or competition, collection is driven by interest or the desire to organize and possess.
"Emulate" is about replication and often improvement upon a model or example set by others. It is an action taken in the spirit of competition or homage. In contrast, "collect" is about acquisition and ownership, gathering various items to form a group or assembly. The former is a dynamic process of action, while the latter is more about accumulation and preservation.
When one aims to emulate, they are actively engaging in learning and applying skills or behaviors. For instance, an apprentice artist may emulate the techniques of a master. On the other hand, when one collects, they are amassing items such as an artist might collect paints and canvases as part of their trade.
Emulation can be seen as a form of flattery, indicating respect and a desire to reach certain standards. For example, a younger sibling may emulate an older one's study habits. Collecting, however, can be a hobby or a professional pursuit, such as when a historian collects artifacts for archival purposes.
The essence of emulation is often found in the pursuit of excellence and the drive to achieve parity or superiority. Conversely, the essence of collecting often lies in the joy of the items themselves and the satisfaction of having and holding them, as seen when someone collects stamps, coins, or art.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Imitate to match or surpass
Gather or accumulate items
Purpose
Improvement, competition, or homage
Interest, organization, or possession
Action Type
Dynamic, skill-oriented
Static, item-oriented
Driven by
Admiration, aspiration
Hobby, professional need
Outcome
Achievement of skills, standards
Possession of items, completion of a set
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Emulate and Collect Definitions
Emulate
Strive to equal or surpass, typically by imitation.
She hoped to emulate her sister's athletic achievements.
Collect
Bring or gather together (things, typically when scattered or widespread).
After the storm, he collected the fallen branches from his yard.
Emulate
Match something or someone by imitation.
The software was designed to emulate the human thought process.
Collect
Gather together a number of items.
She collects stamps from different countries.
Emulate
Reproduce the function or action of a different computer, software system, etc.
The new app emulates old arcade games.
Collect
Accumulate or receive (items or amounts owed).
By the end of the week, he needed to collect all outstanding payments.
Emulate
To copy something achieved by others to gain respect.
He tried to emulate the professor’s critical thinking methods.
Collect
Receive a collection of payments or contributions.
She went around the neighborhood to collect donations for the charity event.
Emulate
Imitate someone's success or achievements.
The startup tried to emulate the business model of the industry leaders.
Collect
Systematically seek and acquire items of a particular kind as a hobby.
He began to collect vintage guitars.
Emulate
To strive to equal or excel, especially through imitation
An older pupil whose accomplishments and style I emulated.
Collect
To bring together in a group or mass; gather
The teacher collected the exams.
Emulate
To compete with successfully; approach or attain equality with.
Collect
To accumulate as a hobby or for study
Collect old coins.
Collect folk tales.
Emulate
(Computers) 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.
Collect
To call for and obtain payment of
Collect taxes.
Emulate
To attempt to equal or be the same as.
Collect
To be the site for (an accumulating mass), especially as a consequence of disuse or neglect
My guitar is collecting dust in the corner.
Emulate
To copy or imitate, especially a person.
People are endlessly fascinating, even if you'd never want to emulate them.
Collect
To recover control of
Collect one's emotions.
Emulate
(obsolete) To feel a rivalry with; to be jealous of, to envy.
Collect
To call for (someone); pick up
Collected the children and drove home.
Emulate
(computing) of a program or device: to imitate another program or device
Collect
To come together in a group or mass; gather
Sand collected in the crevices.
Emulate
(obsolete) Striving to excel; ambitious; emulous.
Collect
To take in payments or donations
Collecting for charity.
Emulate
Striving to excel; ambitious; emulous.
Collect
With payment to be made by the receiver
Called collect.
A collect phone call.
Emulate
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.
Collect
A brief formal prayer that is used in various Western liturgies before the epistle and that varies with the day.
Emulate
Strive to equal or match, especially by imitating;
He is emulating the skating skills of his older sister
Collect
(transitive) To gather together; amass.
Suzanne collected all the papers she had laid out.
Emulate
Imitate the function of (another system), as by modifying the hardware or the software
Collect
(transitive) To get; particularly, get from someone.
A bank collects a monthly payment on a client's new car loan.
A mortgage company collects a monthly payment on a house.
Emulate
Compete with successfully; approach or reach equality with;
This artists's drawings cannot emulate his water colors
Collect
(transitive) To accumulate (a number of similar or related objects), particularly for a hobby or recreation.
John Henry collects stamps.
I don't think he collects as much as hoards.
My friend from school has started to collects mangas and novels recently
Collect
To form a conclusion; to deduce, infer. (Compare gather, get.)
Collect
To collect payments.
He had a lot of trouble collecting on that bet he made.
Collect
(intransitive) To come together in a group or mass.
The rain collected in puddles.
Collect
(transitive) To infer; to conclude.
Collect
To collide with or crash into (another vehicle or obstacle).
The truck veered across the central reservation and collected a car that was travelling in the opposite direction.
Collect
To be paid for by the recipient, as a telephone call or a shipment.
It was to be a collect delivery, but no-one was available to pay.
Collect
With payment due from the recipient.
I had to call collect.
Collect
(Christianity) The prayer said before the reading of the epistle lesson, especially one found in a prayerbook, as with the Book of Common Prayer.
He used the day's collect as the basis of his sermon.
Collect
To gather into one body or place; to assemble or bring together; to obtain by gathering.
A band of menCollected choicely from each country.
'Tis memory alone that enriches the mind, by preserving what our labor and industry daily collect.
Collect
To demand and obtain payment of, as an account, or other indebtedness; as, to collect taxes.
Collect
To infer from observed facts; to conclude from premises.
Which sequence, I conceive, is very ill collected.
Collect
To assemble together; as, the people collected in a crowd; to accumulate; as, snow collects in banks.
Collect
To infer; to conclude.
Whence some collect that the former word imports a plurality of persons.
Collect
A short, comprehensive prayer, adapted to a particular day, occasion, or condition, and forming part of a liturgy.
The noble poem on the massacres of Piedmont is strictly a collect in verse.
Collect
A short prayer generally preceding the lesson in the Church of Rome or the Church of England
Collect
Get or gather together;
I am accumulating evidence for the man's unfaithfulness to his wife
She is amassing a lot of data for her thesis
She rolled up a small fortune
Collect
Call for and obtain payment of;
We collected over a million dollars in outstanding debts
He collected the rent
Collect
Assemble or get together;
Gather some stones
Pull your thoughts together
Collect
Get or bring together;
Accumulate evidence
Collect
Gather or collect;
You can get the results on Monday
She picked up the children at the day care center
They pick up our trash twice a week
Collect
Payment due by the recipient on delivery;
A collect call
The letter came collect
A COD parcel
Collect
Make a telephone call or mail a package so that the recipient pays;
Call collect
Send a package collect
FAQs
Is collecting always a physical activity?
No, you can collect physical items or digital items, like data or images.
Can you emulate a process?
Yes, you can emulate a process by imitating it to understand or improve upon it.
What does it mean to emulate a person?
To emulate a person means to imitate them, typically to match or exceed their achievements.
Is emulation always positive?
It can be, but it depends on the intent and outcome of the imitation.
Can emulation be considered a form of learning?
Yes, emulation is often used as a learning technique to develop skills.
Can emulation lead to innovation?
Yes, by building on existing concepts, emulation can lead to innovation.
Can anyone be an emulator?
Yes, anyone who imitates another to achieve success can be considered an emulator.
Do you need a lot of space to collect things?
It depends on what you're collecting; some collections require more space than others.
What might motivate someone to collect items?
Interest in the items, desire for completion, or investment purposes.
Can emulation be a form of flattery?
Yes, it's often said that "imitation is the sincerest form of flattery."
Is emulation the same as copying?
Emulation is a form of imitation with the intent to match or surpass, not just copy.
Can collecting be a professional activity?
Yes, professions like museum curating involve collecting as a major component.
Can collectibles be intangible?
Yes, people can collect things like experiences, memories, or digital items.
How do you start a collection?
By deciding what to collect and seeking out items to add to your collection.
Can you emulate a style?
Yes, artists and designers often emulate styles to learn or create something new.
Is there a limit to how much you can collect?
The limit is usually set by one's space, resources, and the availability of items.
What’s the difference between emulate and imitate?
Emulate involves the intent to match or surpass, while imitate is simply to copy.
Do emulators always succeed in their attempts?
Not always; success depends on various factors including skill and dedication.
Can a collection lose value over time?
Yes, depending on market demand and the condition of the items.
Is there a community aspect to collecting?
Often, yes; collectors frequently share information and trade items with each other.
About Author
Written by
Harlon MossHarlon is a seasoned quality moderator and accomplished content writer for Difference Wiki. An alumnus of the prestigious University of California, he earned his degree in Computer Science. Leveraging his academic background, Harlon brings a meticulous and informed perspective to his work, ensuring content accuracy and excellence.
Edited by
Aimie CarlsonAimie Carlson, holding a master's degree in English literature, is a fervent English language enthusiast. She lends her writing talents to Difference Wiki, a prominent website that specializes in comparisons, offering readers insightful analyses that both captivate and inform.
