perform

perform
   1. to defecate or urinate when required
   A shortened form of perform a natural function or some such expression:
    Temple felt an urge to perform a natural function. (Boyd, 1987)
   Common nursery usage to describe a child being trained to control urination or defecation:
    On the rare occasions when by pure chance — he 'performed', she moderated her pantomime of approval. (M. McCarthy, 1963)
   Also used of domestic pets.
   2. to indulge in sexual activity
   Normally heterosexual, of a male:
    You see... he can perform, or he wants to, anyway he does. (Amis, 1978)
   Whence the performer:
    ... the writer or artist... is a better performer in love's lists than the navvy. (F. Harris, 1925)
   Also of homosexuality and sexual deviation.

How not to say what you mean: A dictionary of euphemisms. . 2014.

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  • perform — per‧form [pəˈfɔːm ǁ pərˈfɔːrm] verb 1. [transitive] to do work, carry out a duty, task etc: • It takes a highly skilled mechanic to perform repairs on this car. • Symbols across the top of the screen let a user click a mouse button to perform… …   Financial and business terms

  • perform — per·form vt 1: to adhere to and fulfill the terms of perform an obligation 2: to carry out or bring about perform the work according to design 3: to do according to prescribed ritual or law perform a marriage ceremony 4 …   Law dictionary

  • perform — vb Perform, execute, discharge, accomplish, achieve, effect, fulfill are comparable when they mean to carry out or into effect. Perform, sometimes merely a formal synonym for do, is more often used with reference to processes than to acts. One… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • Perform — Per*form , v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Performed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Performing}.] [OE. performen, parfourmen, parfournen, OF. parfornir, parfournir, to finish, complete; OF. & F. par (see {Par}) + fournir to finish, complete. The word has been… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • PerForm — and PerForm PRO were electronic forms program, initially designed to work under GEM in DOS. Later versions of this program were designed to work on Windows 3.1, at which point it was succeeded in its product line by FormFlow.The initial version… …   Wikipedia

  • perform — [pər fôrm′] vt. [ME performen < Anglo Fr parformer, altered (infl. by forme,FORM) < OFr parfournir, to perform, consummate < par (< L per , intens.) + fornir, to accomplish, FURNISH] 1. to act on so as to accomplish or bring to… …   English World dictionary

  • Perform — Per*form , v. i. To do, execute, or accomplish something; to acquit one s self in any business; esp., to represent sometimes by action; to act a part; to play on a musical instrument; as, the players perform poorly; the musician performs on the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • perform — [v1] carry out, accomplish achieve, act, be engaged in, behave, bring about, bring off, carry through, carry to completion, complete, comply, deliver the goods*, discharge, dispose of, do, do justice to*, do to a turn*, effect, end, enforce,… …   New thesaurus

  • perform on — index militate Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • perform — c.1300, carry into effect, fulfill, discharge, via Anglo Fr. performir, altered (by influence of O.Fr. forme form ) from O.Fr. parfornir to do, carry out, finish, accomplish, from par completely + fornir to provide (see FURNISH (Cf. furnish)).… …   Etymology dictionary

  • perform — ► VERB 1) carry out, accomplish, or fulfil (an action, task, or function). 2) work, function, or do something to a specified standard. 3) present entertainment to an audience. 4) (of an investment) yield a profitable return. DERIVATIVES… …   English terms dictionary

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