Try to equal (7)
I believe the answer is:
emulate
'try to equal' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
This is all the clue.
(Other definitions for emulate that I've seen before include "Try to be like" , "Try to equal (object of admiration)" , "Try to do as well as, copy" , "Mimic" , "Try to equal or excel" .)