performs

Performs is the third-person singular present tense form of the verb perform. It denotes the action of carrying out or executing an action, task, or function. It is commonly followed by a direct object: "She performs the procedure" or "The actor performs a scene." Intransitive uses exist in phrases like "The machine performs well" or "The system performs under stress."

Etymology: The verb derives from Latin per- (through) and formare (to form), via Old French and Middle English, with the sense of bringing something to completion or carrying out an intended action.

Usage: It appears across domains such as arts and entertainment (perform a play), science and technology (perform a calculation, perform an experiment), and operations (perform maintenance). The third-person form retains the regular -s ending in modern English: I perform, you perform, he performs, they perform. The past tense is performed; the present participle is performing; the noun forms are performance and performer.

Related terms and notes: Related nouns include performance and performer. The adjective performative is used in linguistics and philosophy to describe language or actions that perform an act. In standard usage, perform is predominantly transitive, taking a direct object, but can be used intransitively in certain contexts such as "The machine performs well."