Activate and Execute

verb

• Put in motion or move to act.
  • usage: "trigger a reaction"; "actuate the circuits"
  • synonyms: trip, actuate, trigger, set off, spark off, spark, trigger off, touch off
• Make active or more active.
  • usage: "activate an old file"
• Make more adsorptive.
  • usage: "activate a metal"
• Aerate (sewage) so as to favor the growth of organisms that decompose organic matter.
  • synonyms: aerate
• Make (substances) radioactive. .

verb

• Kill as a means of socially sanctioned punishment.
  • usage: "In some states, criminals are executed"
  • synonyms: put to death
• Murder in a planned fashion.
  • usage: "The Mafioso who collaborated with the police was executed"
• Put in effect.
  • usage: "carry out a task"; "execute the decision of the people"; "He actioned the operation"
  • synonyms: carry through, accomplish, carry out, action, fulfill, fulfil
• Carry out the legalities of.
  • usage: "execute a will or a deed"
• Carry out a process or program, as on a computer or a machine.
  • usage: "Run the dishwasher"; "run a new program on the Mac"; "the computer executed the instruction"
  • synonyms: run
• Carry out or perform an action.
  • usage: "John did the painting, the weeding, and he cleaned out the gutters"; "the skater executed a triple pirouette"; "she did a little dance"
  • synonyms: perform, do
• Sign in the presence of witnesses.
  • usage: "The President executed the treaty"

• (v.i.) To do one's work; to act one's part of purpose.
• (v.t.) To follow out or through to the end; to carry out into complete effect; to complete; to finish; to effect; to perform.
• (v.t.) To infect capital punishment on; to put to death in conformity to a legal sentence; as, to execute a traitor.
• (v.t.) To perform, as a piece of music, either on an instrument or with the voice; as, to execute a difficult part brilliantly.
• (v.t.) Too put to death illegally; to kill.
• (v.i.) To perform musically.
• (v.t.) To give effect to; to do what is provided or required by; to perform the requirements or stimulations of; as, to execute a decree, judgment, writ or process.
• (v.t.) To complete, as a legal instrument; to perform what is required to give validity to, as by signing and perhaps sealing and delivering; as, to execute a deed, lease, mortgage, will, etc.

execute is the act of making a document legally valid, such as formalizing a contract by signing or acknowledging and delivering a deed. In some cases, execution of a document may refer solely to the act of signing, in other cases it may refer to complete performance of the document's terms.