simulation
UK[ˌsɪm.jʊˈleɪ.ʃən]US[ˌsɪm.jəˈleɪ.ʃən]
n
The process of creating a model of a real or hypothetical system and conducting experiments with it to understand its behavior or evaluate strategies.
n
Something that is made to look, feel, or behave like something else, especially for the purpose of study, training, or entertainment.
Morpheme Breakdown
simul
ation
simul
like, similar
ation
noun suffix
Etymology
The word 'simulation' traces its lineage to the Latin verb simulare, meaning "to make like, to imitate," which itself derives from the adjective similis (like, similar). The core concept of likeness is ancient, with similis likely originating from the Proto-Indo-European root sem-, meaning "one, together," suggesting a coming together into sameness. Over centuries, the action suffix -ation was appended to form a noun describing the act or product of imitation. The term's journey into English, via Middle French, reflects an evolution from simple copying to the sophisticated modern sense of creating dynamic, operational models of complex systems for analysis and prediction.
Analysis
Structure: simul (like, similar) + ation (noun suffix)
- simul: From Latin similis (like, similar). Functions as the core root conveying the sense of likeness or imitation.
- ation: A suffix of Latin origin (-ationem), forming nouns of action or state. In this word, it denotes the process or result of making similar.
Examples
Pilots train for emergencies using a flight simulation.
The computer simulation predicted the storm's path with remarkable accuracy.
His apology was merely a simulation of remorse, lacking genuine feeling.