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See also: exécuté and exécute

English

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Etymology

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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).

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ˈɛksɪˌkjuːt/
  • Audio (US):(file)
  • Hyphenation: ex‧e‧cute

Verb

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execute (third-person singular simple present executes, present participle executing, simple past and past participle executed)

  1. (transitive) To kill, especially as punishment for a capital crime.
    Coordinate term: murder
    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.
  2. (transitive) To carry out; to put into effect.
    Your orders have been executed, sir!
    I'll execute your orders as soon as this meeting is adjourned.
    • 1667, John Milton, “Book IX”, in Paradise Lost. [], London: [] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker []; [a]nd by Robert Boulter []; [a]nd Matthias Walker, [], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: [], London: Basil Montagu Pickering [], 1873, →OCLC:
      Why delays / His hand to execute what his decree / Fixed on this day?
  3. (transitive) To perform.
    to execute a difficult piece of music brilliantly
    to execute a turn in ballet
  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.
    to execute a contract
  5. (transitive, computing) To start, launch, or run.
    Synonyms: start, launch, run, open
    to execute a program
  6. (intransitive, computing) To run, usually successfully.
    The program executed, but data problems were discovered.

Derived terms

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Synonyms

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Translations

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Latin

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Pronunciation

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Participle

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execūte

  1. vocative masculine singular of execūtus

Portuguese

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Verb

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execute

  1. inflection of executar:
    1. first/third-person singular present subjunctive
    2. third-person singular imperative

Spanish

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Verb

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execute

  1. inflection of executar:
    1. first/third-person singular present subjunctive
    2. third-person singular imperative