Performance

Pronunciation

• enPR: pÉ™r-fôrʹ-mÉ™ns, IPA: /pÉ™r.ˈfÉ”r.mÉ™ns/
• UK IPA: pÉ™.ˈfɔː.mÉ™ns
• US IPA: pÉš.ˈfɔɹ.mÉ™ns
• Rhymes: -ɔː(r)mÉ™ns
• Hyphenation: per + for + mance

Alternative forms

• performaunce

Origin

From perform + -ance

Full definition of performance

Noun

1. The act of performing; carrying into execution or action; execution; achievement; accomplishment; representation by action.
   the performance of an undertaking or a duty
• 1959, Georgette Heyer, The Unknown Ajax Chapter 1, Charles had not been employed above six months at Darracott Place, but he was not such a whopstraw as to make the least noise in the performance of his duties when his lordship was out of humour.
2. That which is performed or accomplished; a thing done or carried through; an achievement; a deed; an act; a feat; especially, an action of an elaborate or public character.
3. A live show or concert.
4. (computer science) The amount of useful work accomplished by a computer system compared to the time and resources used.
   Better performance means more work accomplished in shorter time and/or using fewer resources.

Usage notes

Adjecties often applied to "performance":

high, poor, improved, superior, excellent, good, peak, top, optimal, low, economic, academic, financial, musical, human, environmental, vocal, cognitive, dynamic, organizational, historical, physical, social, mechanical, electrical, mental, macroeconomic.

Derived terms

• command performance

Hyponyms

• play
• show
• movie
• concert