execute

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. v. To put into effect; carry out: a government that executes the decisions of the ruling party.
2. v. To perform; do: execute a U-turn. See Synonyms at perform.
3. v. To create (a work of art, for example) in accordance with a prescribed design.
4. v. To make valid, as by signing: execute a deed.
5. v. To perform or carry out what is required by: execute the terms of a will.
6. v. To put to death, especially by carrying out a lawful sentence.
7. v. Computer Science To run (a program or an instruction).

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. To follow out or through to the end; perform completely, as something projected, prescribed, or ordered; carry into complete effect; accomplish: as, to execute a purpose, plan, design, or scheme.
2. To perform or do: as, to execute a difficult gymnastic feat; to execute a piece of music.
3. In law: To complete and give validity to, as a legal instrument, by performing whatever is required by law to be done, as by signing and sealing, attestation, authentication, etc.: as, to execute a deed or lease. An instrument is said to be executed when it is so authenticated as to be complete as an instrument, although the contract or declaration of purpose embodied in the instrument may still remain executory. See executory contract, under contract.
4. To perform or carry out fully, as the conditions of a deed, contract, etc. A contract containing reciprocal obligations may in this sense be executed on one side while remaining executory on the other, as, for instance, when the purchaser pays the price in full before he receives a conveyance.
5. To give effect to; put in force; enforce; as, to execute law or justice; to execute a writ; to execute judgment or vengeance.
6. To perform judgment or sentence on; specifically, to inflict capital punishment on; put to death in accordance with law or the sentence of a court: as, to execute a traitor.
7. Hence To put to death; kill; do to death.
8. To carry out or accomplish a course of action, a purpose, or a plan; produce an effect or result aimed at.
9. To perform a piece of music: as, he executes well.
10. Executed; accomplished.

Wiktionary

1. v. transitive To kill as punishment for capital crimes.
2. v. transitive To carry out; to put into effect.
3. v. transitive To begin putting into effect.
4. v. transitive To cause to become legally valid; as, to execute a contract.
5. v. transitive, computing To start, launch or run; as, to execute a program.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. v. To follow out or through to the end; to carry out into complete effect; to complete; to finish; to effect; to perform.
2. v. To complete, as a legal instrument; to perform what is required to give validity to, as by signing and perhaps sealing and delivering
3. v. To give effect to; to do what is provided or required by; to perform the requirements or stipulations of.
4. v. To infect capital punishment on; to put to death in conformity to a legal sentence.
5. v. obsolete To put to death illegally; to kill.
6. v. (Mus.) To perform, as a piece of music or other feat of skill, whether on an instrument or with the voice, or in any other manner requiring physical activity.
7. v. rare To do one's work; to act one's part or purpose.
8. v. To perform musically.

WordNet 3.0

1. v. carry out a process or program, as on a computer or a machine
2. v. murder in a planned fashion
3. v. sign in the presence of witnesses
4. v. carry out or perform an action
5. v. put in effect
6. v. kill as a means of socially sanctioned punishment
7. v. carry out the legalities of