Attempt to equal (7)
I believe the answer is:
emulate
'attempt to equal' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for emulate that I've seen before include "Copy - rival" , "Strive to equal or surpass" , "Model oneself on" , "Try to surpass what one admires" , "Copy -- reach equality with" .)