perform definition | Dictionary.com

per⋅form

[per-fawrm]

–verb (used with object)

1.	to carry out; execute; do: to perform miracles.

2.	to go through or execute in the proper, customary, or established manner: to perform the marriage ceremony.

3.	to carry into effect; fulfill: Perform what you promise.

4.	to act (a play, part, etc.), as on the stage, in movies, or on television.

5.	to render (music), as by playing or singing.

6.	to accomplish (any action involving skill or ability), as before an audience: to perform a juggling act.

7.	to complete.

–verb (used without object)

8.	to fulfill a command, promise, or undertaking.

9.	to execute or do something.

10.	to act in a play: to perform in the role of Romeo.

11.	to perform music.

12.	to go through any performance.

13.	(of loans, investments, etc.) to yield a profit; earn income.

Origin:
1250–1300; ME parformen < AF parformer, alter. (by assoc. with forme form ) of MF, OF parfournir to accomplish. See per-, furnish

Related forms:

per⋅form⋅a⋅ble, adjective

per⋅form⋅er, noun

Synonyms:
1. Perform, discharge, execute, transact mean to carry to completion a prescribed course of action. Perform is the general word, often applied to ordinary activity as a more formal expression than do, but usually implying regular, methodical, or prolonged application or work: to perform an exacting task. Discharge implies carrying out an obligation, often a formal or legal one: to discharge one's duties as a citizen. Execute means either to carry out an order or to carry through a plan or program: to execute a maneuver. Transact, meaning to conduct or manage, has commercial connotations: to transact business. 3. accomplish, achieve, effect.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Link To perform

per·form (pər-fôrm')

v. per·formed, per·form·ing, per·forms

v. tr.

To begin and carry through to completion; do: The surgeon performed the operation.
To take action in accordance with the requirements of; fulfill: perform one's contractual obligations.
1. To enact (a feat or role) before an audience.
2. To give a public presentation of; present: My theater group performed a three-act play.

v. intr.

To carry on; function: a car that performs well on curves.
To fulfill an obligation or requirement; accomplish something as promised or expected.
To portray a role or demonstrate a skill before an audience: The juggler performed atop a unicycle.
To present a dramatic or musical work or other entertainment before an audience.

[Middle English performen, from Anglo-Norman performer, from Old French parfornir : par-, intensive pref. (from Latin per-, per-) + fournir, to furnish; see furnish.]
per·form'a·ble adj., per·form'er n.

Synonyms: These verbs signify to carry through to completion. To perform is to carry out an action, undertaking, or procedure, often with great skill or care. The ship's captain performed the wedding ceremony. Laser experiments are performed regularly in the laboratory.
Execute implies performing a task or putting something into effect in accordance with a plan or design: "To execute laws is a royal office; to execute orders is not to be a king" (Edmund Burke).
Accomplish connotes the successful completion of something, often of something that requires tenacity or talent: "Make one brave push and see what can be accomplished in a week" (Robert Louis Stevenson).
To achieve is to accomplish something, often something significant, especially despite difficulty: "Some are born great . . . Some achieve greatness . . . And some have greatness thrust upon them" (Shakespeare).
Effect suggests the power of an agent to bring about a desired result: The prescribed antibiotics didn't effect a complete cure.
To fulfill is to live up to expectations or satisfy demands, wishes, or requirements: All their desires could not be fulfilled.
To discharge an obligation or duty is to perform all the steps necessary for its fulfillment: "I have found it impossible . . . to discharge my duties as King as I would wish to do" (Edward VIII).

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Perform

Per*form"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Performed; p. pr. & vb. n. Performing.] [OE. performen, parfourmen, parfournen, OF. parfornir, parfournir, to finish, complete; OF. & F. par (see Par) + fournir to finish, complete. The word has been influenced by form; cf. L. performare to form thoroughly. See Furnish.]

1. To carry through; to bring to completion; to achieve; to accomplish; to execute; to do.

I will cry unto God most high, unto God that performeth all things for me. --Ps. lvii. 2.

Great force to perform what they did attempt. --Sir P. Sidney.

2. To discharge; to fulfill; to act up to; as, to perform a duty; to perform a promise or a vow.

To perform your father's will. --Shak.

3. To represent; to act; to play; as in drama.

Perform a part thou hast not done before. --Shak.

Syn: To accomplish; do; act; transact; achieve; execute; discharge; fulfill; effect; complete; consummate. See Accomplish.

Perform

Per*form"\, v. i. To do, execute, or accomplish something; to acquit one's self in any business; esp., to represent sometimes by action; to act a part; to play on a musical instrument; as, the players perform poorly; the musician performs on the organ.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : perform

Spanish: realizar, efectuar, ejecutar,

German: durch-, ausführen,

Japanese: 行う

More Translations »

perform

c.1300, "carry into effect, fulfill, discharge," via Anglo-Fr. performir, altered (by infl. of O.Fr. forme "form") from O.Fr. parfornir "to do, carry out, finish, accomplish," from par- "completely" + fornir "to provide" (see furnish). Theatrical/musical sense is from 1610.

Main Entry: per·form
Function: transitive verb
1 : to adhere to and fulfill the terms of <perform an obligation>
2 : to carry out or bring about <perform the work according to design>
3 : to do according to prescribed ritual or law <perform a marriage ceremony>
4 : to give a public rendition or presentation of <perform a copyrighted play> intransitive verb 1 : to adhere to and fulfill the terms of a contract, promise, or obligation perform under the agreement>
2 : to carry out or present something

PERFORM programming
A COBOL statement used for executing "paragraphs".
[What's a paragraph?]
(1997-06-10)

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