execute

1. (transitive) To kill, especially as punishment for a capital crime.Examples: "There are certain states where it is lawful to execute prisoners convicted of certain crimes."; "According to international treaties, it is illegal to execute prisoners of war."; "Was not thy Father, Richard, Earle of Cambridge, / For Treaſon executed in our late Kings dayes?"transitive

2. (transitive) To carry out; to put into effect.Examples: "Your orders have been executed, sir!"; "I'll execute your orders as soon as this meeting is adjourned."; "Why delays / His hand to execute what his decree / Fixed on this day?"transitive

3. (transitive) To perform.Examples: "to execute a difficult piece of music brilliantly"; "to execute a turn in ballet"; "Affinity groups will plan and execute nonviolent actions to both symbolically and directly challenge weapons development."transitive

4. (transitive, law) 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.Examples: "to execute a contract"transitive

5. (transitive, computing) To start, launch, or run.Examples: "to execute a program"Synonyms: start, launch, run, opentransitive

6. (intransitive, computing) To run, usually successfully.Examples: "The program executed, but data problems were discovered."intransitive