execution

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   The act, manner or style of executing (actions, maneuvers, performances).

   Already the poor man saw himself crowned by the might of his arm Emperor of Trebizond at least; and so, led away by the intense enjoyment he found in these pleasant fancies, he set himself forthwith to put his scheme into execution.

2. 2
   noun

   The state of being accomplished.

   The mission's successful execution lifted the troops' morale.

3. 3
   noun

   The act of putting to death or being put to death as a penalty, or actions so associated.

   Efforts to unionize were routinely met with clubbings, shootings, jailings, blacklistings and executions, perpetrated not only by well-armed legions of company goons, but also by police officers, deputies, National Guardsmen and even regular soldiers.

4. 4
   noun

   Specifically, the seizure of a debtor's goods or property in default of payment.

   There are two executions in the house, one for sixteen hundred, the other for two thousand three hundred pounds.

5. 5
   noun

   The carrying out of an instruction, program or program segment by a computer.

   The entire machine slowed down during the execution of the virus checker.

6. 6
   noun

   the act of performing

7. 7
   noun

   unlawful premeditated killing of a human being by a human being

8. 8
   noun

   the act of accomplishing some aim or executing some order

Etymology

From Old French execution (c.1360), from Latin exsecutiō, an agent noun from exsequor (“to follow out”), from ex (“out”) + sequor (“follow”). Equivalent to execute + -ion.