Search Result for "performance": 
Wordnet 3.0

NOUN (5)

1. a dramatic or musical entertainment;
- Example: "they listened to ten different performances"
- Example: "the play ran for 100 performances"
- Example: "the frequent performances of the symphony testify to its popularity"
[syn: performance, public presentation]

2. the act of presenting a play or a piece of music or other entertainment;
- Example: "we congratulated him on his performance at the rehearsal"
- Example: "an inspired performance of Mozart's C minor concerto"

3. the act of performing; of doing something successfully; using knowledge as distinguished from merely possessing it;
- Example: "they criticised his performance as mayor"
- Example: "experience generally improves performance"
[syn: performance, execution, carrying out, carrying into action]

4. any recognized accomplishment;
- Example: "they admired his performance under stress"
- Example: "when Roger Maris powered four home runs in one game his performance merits awe"

5. process or manner of functioning or operating;
- Example: "the power of its engine determines its operation"
- Example: "the plane's operation in high winds"
- Example: "they compared the cooking performance of each oven"
- Example: "the jet's performance conformed to high standards"
[syn: operation, functioning, performance]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Performance \Per*form"ance\, n. The act of performing; the carrying into execution or action; execution; achievement; accomplishment; representation by action; as, the performance of an undertaking of a duty. [1913 Webster] Promises are not binding where the performance is impossible. --Paley. [1913 Webster] 2. That which is performed or accomplished; a thing done or carried through; an achievement; a deed; an act; a feat; esp., an action of an elaborate or public character. "Her walking and other actual performances." --Shak. "His musical performances." --Macaulay. [1913 Webster] Syn: Completion; consummation; execution; accomplishment; achievement; production; work; act; action; deed; exploit; feat. [1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

performance n 1: a dramatic or musical entertainment; "they listened to ten different performances"; "the play ran for 100 performances"; "the frequent performances of the symphony testify to its popularity" [syn: performance, public presentation] 2: the act of presenting a play or a piece of music or other entertainment; "we congratulated him on his performance at the rehearsal"; "an inspired performance of Mozart's C minor concerto" 3: the act of performing; of doing something successfully; using knowledge as distinguished from merely possessing it; "they criticised his performance as mayor"; "experience generally improves performance" [syn: performance, execution, carrying out, carrying into action] 4: any recognized accomplishment; "they admired his performance under stress"; "when Roger Maris powered four home runs in one game his performance merits awe" 5: process or manner of functioning or operating; "the power of its engine determines its operation"; "the plane's operation in high winds"; "they compared the cooking performance of each oven"; "the jet's performance conformed to high standards" [syn: operation, functioning, performance]
Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:

240 Moby Thesaurus words for "performance": Philharmonic concert, accomplished fact, accomplishment, accordance, achievement, acquittal, acquittance, act, acta, acting, action, adherence, administration, adventure, agency, aping, appearance, attainment, baccalaureate service, band concert, behavior, benefit, bill, blow, bringing to fruition, buffoonery, business, cantando, care, carrying out, celebration, ceremonial, ceremony, chamber concert, characterization, commencement, commission, completion, compliance, concert, conduct, conformance, conformity, consummation, convocation, coup, dealings, debut, deed, demeanor, demilegato, demonstration, deportment, direction, discharge, dispatch, display, doing, doings, driving, dumb show, effectiveness, effectuation, efficacy, effort, embodiment, empty formality, enacting, enactment, endeavor, engagement, enterprise, entertainment, execution, exercise, exercises, exhibit, exhibition, exploit, exposition, exposure, expression, fait accompli, farewell performance, feat, fingering, flesh show, formal, formality, fruition, fulfillment, function, functioning, gag, gest, gig, glissando, go, graduation, graduation exercises, ham, hammy acting, hand, handiwork, handling, heed, heeding, hoke, hokum, imitation, impersonation, implementation, inaugural, inauguration, incarnation, initiation, interpretation, intonation, job, keeping, legato, liturgy, management, maneuver, manipulation, masquerade, measure, mezzo staccato, mimesis, mimicking, mimicry, miming, mission accomplished, move, mummery, music-making, musical performance, musical program, observance, observation, occupation, office, opening, operancy, operation, ostentation, overacting, overproduction, overt act, pantomime, pantomiming, parlando, passage, patter, performing, perpetration, personation, personification, philharmonic, pianism, pizzicato, play, playacting, playing, pop concert, pops, popular concert, portrayal, posing, practice, premiere, presentation, presentment, proceeding, production, productiveness, program, program of music, projection, prom, promenade concert, realization, recital, religious ceremony, rendering, rendition, repercussion, representation, res gestae, respect, responsibility, retrospective, rite, rite de passage, rite of passage, ritual, rubato, running, satisfaction, scene, service, service of music, show, showing, slapstick, slur, solemnity, solemnization, spiccato, staccato, stage business, stage directions, stage presence, stage presentation, steering, step, stroke, stunt, success, swan song, symphony concert, taking a role, theatrical performance, thing, thing done, touch, tour de force, transaction, tryout, turn, undertaking, unfolding, unfoldment, unveiling, varnishing day, vernissage, work, working, workings, works
Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856):

PERFORMANCE. The act of doing something; the thing done is also called a performance; as, Paul is exonerated from the obligation of his contract by its performance. 2. When it contract has been made by parol, which, under the statute of frauds and perjuries, could not be enforced, because it was not in writing, and the party seeking to avoid it, has received the whole or a part performance of such agreement, he cannot afterwards avoid it; 14 John. 15; S. C. 1 John. Ch. R. 273; and such part performance will enable the other party to prove it aliunde. 1 Pet. C. C. R. 380; 1 Rand. R. 165; 1 Blackf. R. 58; 2 Day, R. 255; 1 Desaus. R. 350; 5 Day, R. 67; 1 Binn. R. 218; 3 Paige, R. 545; 1 John. Ch. R. 131, 146. Vide Specific performance.