The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Execution \Ex`e*cu"tion\, n. [F. ex['e]cution, L. executio,
   exsecutio.]
   1. The act of executing; a carrying into effect or to
      completion; performance; achievement; consummation; as,
      the execution of a plan, a work, etc.
      [1913 Webster]

            The excellence of the subject contributed much to
            the happiness of the execution.       --Dryden.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. A putting to death as a legal penalty; death lawfully
      inflicted; as, the execution of a murderer; to grant a
      stay of execution.
      [1913 Webster]

            A warrant for his execution.          --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. The act of the mode of performing a work of art, of
      performing on an instrument, of engraving, etc.; as, the
      execution of a statue, painting, or piece of music.
      [1913 Webster]

            The first quality of execution is truth. --Ruskin.
      [1913 Webster]

   4. The mode of performing any activity; as, the game plan was
      excellent, but its execution was filled with mistakes.
      [PJC]

   5. (Law)
      (a) The carrying into effect the judgment given in a court
          of law.
      (b) A judicial writ by which an officer is empowered to
          carry a judgment into effect; final process.
      (c) The act of signing, and delivering a legal instrument,
          or giving it the forms required to render it valid;
          as, the execution of a deed, or a will.
          [1913 Webster]

   6. That which is executed or accomplished; effect; effective
      work; -- usually with do.
      [1913 Webster]

            To do some fatal execution.           --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

   7. The act of sacking a town. [Obs.] --Beau. & FL.
      [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

execution
    n 1: putting a condemned person to death [syn: execution,
         executing, capital punishment, death penalty]
    2: 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]
    3: (computer science) the process of carrying out an instruction
       by a computer [syn: execution, instruction execution]
    4: (law) the completion of a legal instrument (such as a
       contract or deed) by signing it (and perhaps sealing and
       delivering it) so that it becomes legally binding and
       enforceable [syn: execution, execution of instrument]
    5: a routine court order that attempts to enforce the judgment
       that has been granted to a plaintiff by authorizing a sheriff
       to carry it out [syn: execution, writ of execution]
    6: the act of accomplishing some aim or executing some order;
       "the agency was created for the implementation of the policy"
       [syn: execution, implementation, carrying out]
    7: unlawful premeditated killing of a human being by a human
       being [syn: murder, slaying, execution]

The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (19 January 2023):

execution
execute
run

    The process of carrying out
   the instructions in a computer program by a computer.

   See also dry run.

   (1996-05-13)