performance
n.-
1 artistic show (n.) B1 Intermediate Theatrethe act of acting, singing, or dancing for an audience.
a public presentation of a play, concert, or other form of entertainment.
ExampleThe actors gave a wonderful performance that the audience loved.
ExampleThe final performance of the season was met with a standing ovation from the critics and the public alike.
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2 quality of work (n.) B1 Intermediatehow well a person, machine, or company does a piece of work.
the quality or effectiveness with which a task or operation is executed.
ExampleHis performance at work has improved a lot over the last month.
ExampleThe manager conducted a thorough review of the team's performance to identify areas where technical efficiency could be improved.
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3 technical capability (n.) B2 Upper Intermediate Technical Computingthe speed or power of a machine or computer.
the capabilities of a machine, vehicle, or electronic system, often measured against specific benchmarks.
ExampleThis new software will improve the performance of your computer.
ExampleEngineers are working to optimise the performance of the new engine to ensure it meets strict environmental standards without losing power.
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4 linguistic use (n.) C1 Advanced Academic Sciencethe way people actually use language when they speak, which might include mistakes.
the actual production and comprehension of language in real-world instances, contrasted with theoretical competence.
ExampleIn real life, a speaker's performance is often affected by tiredness or stress.
ExampleChomsky distinguished between linguistic competence, the idealised knowledge of rules, and performance, the actual use of language in concrete situations.
UsageOften contrasted with 'competence' in linguistic theory.
From Middle English parfourmaunce; equivalent to perform + -ance.