Emulated timid tea dance (8)
I believe the answer is:
imitated
'emulated' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both to do with fundamental existence as well as being past participle verbs.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'timid tea dance' is the wordplay.
'dance' indicates an anagram.
'timid'+'tea'='timidtea'
'timidtea' is an anagram of 'IMITATED'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for imitated that I've seen before include "Copied, simulated" , "Copied the behaviour or mannerisms of" , "most sincerely flattered?" , "Followed" , "Aped, copied" .)