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Execute

//ˈɛksɪˌkjuːt// verb

Definitions

Verb
  1. 1
    To kill, especially as punishment for a capital crime. transitive

    "There are certain states where it is lawful to execute prisoners convicted of certain crimes."

  2. 2
    sign in the presence of witnesses wordnet
  3. 3
    To carry out; to put into effect. transitive

    "Your orders have been executed, sir!"

  4. 4
    put in effect wordnet
  5. 5
    To perform. transitive

    "to execute a difficult piece of music brilliantly"

Show 8 more definitions
  1. 6
    carry out or perform an action wordnet
  2. 7
    To carry out, to perform an act; to put into effect or cause to become legally binding or valid (as a contract) by so doing. transitive

    "to execute a contract"

  3. 8
    kill as a means of socially sanctioned punishment wordnet
  4. 9
    To start, launch, or run. transitive

    "to execute a program"

  5. 10
    murder in a planned fashion wordnet
  6. 11
    To run, usually successfully. intransitive

    "The program executed, but data problems were discovered."

  7. 12
    carry out a process or program, as on a computer or a machine wordnet
  8. 13
    carry out the legalities of wordnet

Etymology

From Old French executer (French exécuter), from Latin exsecutus, past participle of exsequor (“to follow (up/through)”, particularly in the sense “to go through with a deed or punishment”), from ex- (“out”) + sequor (“to follow”).

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