simulation

n 1: the act of simulating

2: a theoretical account based on a similarity between the

model and the phenomena that are to be explained; "it was

a computer simulation of problem solving" [syn: {analogy}]

3: a representation of something (sometimes on a smaller scale)

[syn: {model}]

4: the act of pretending [syn: {pretense}, {pretence}, {pretending},

{feigning}]

simulation

Attempting to predict aspects of the behaviour of some system

by creating an approximate (mathematical) model of it. This

can be done by physical modelling, by writing a

special-purpose computer program or using a more general

simulation package, probably still aimed at a particular kind

of simulation (e.g. structural engineering, fluid flow).

Typical examples are aircraft flight simlators or electronic

circuit simulators. A great many simulation languages exist,

e.g. {Simula}.

See also {emulation}, {Markov chain}.

{Usenet} newsgroup: {news:comp.simulation}.

(1995-02-23)