perform

[per-fawrm] /pərˈfɔrm/
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; Middle English parformen < Anglo-French parformer, alteration (by association with forme form) of Middle French, Old French parfournir to accomplish. See per-, furnish
Related forms
performable, adjective
performer, noun
misperform, verb
overperform, verb
reperform, verb (used with object)
self-performed, adjective
unperformable, adjective
unperformed, adjective
unperforming, adjective
well-performed, adjective
Synonyms
3. accomplish, achieve, effect.
Synonym Study
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.
Examples from the web for perform
  • Establish and maintain a viable research program, write proposals and perform other scholarly activities.
  • We must perform additional testing to accurately determine your deep ancestral lineage.
  • Usually, plants perform photosynthesis by way of tiny organelles called plastids.
  • It would be quite amazing to see a trained osprey perform the same service.
  • All perform best in full sun or light shade and appreciate regular water.
  • To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.
  • Teachers do not stay, and poor pupils tend to perform worse when they are put with others who are poor.
  • Ask students to modernize the story so that is takes place in the world they are familiar with, and then have them perform it.
  • When it comes time to perform difficult tasks, octopuses do their best impression of humans, according to a new report.
  • King once said of the ballpark, where he used to perform before games.
British Dictionary definitions for perform

perform

/pəˈfɔːm/
verb
1.
to carry out or do (an action)
2.
(transitive) to fulfil or comply with: to perform someone's request
3.
to present or enact (a play, concert, etc) before or otherwise entertain an audience: the group performed Hamlet
4.
(intransitive) (informal) to accomplish sexual intercourse: he performed well
Derived Forms
performable, adjective
performer, noun
Word Origin
C14: from Anglo-Norman perfourmer (influenced by formeform), from Old French parfournir, from par-per- + fournir to provide; see furnish
Word Origin and History for perform
v.

c.1300, "carry into effect, fulfill, discharge," via Anglo-French performer, altered (by influence of Old French forme "form") from Old French parfornir "to do, carry out, finish, accomplish," from par- "completely" (see per-) + fornir "to provide" (see furnish).

Theatrical/musical sense is from c.1600. The verb was used with wider senses in Middle English than now, including "to make, construct; produce, bring about;" also "come true" (of dreams), and to performen muche time was "to live long." Related: Performed; performing.

Slang definitions & phrases for perform

perform

verb

To do a sex act; function sexually: She didn't love him, but liked the way he performed (1916+)


perform in Technology

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