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Definitions for operating system:

WordNet (r) 2.0 :
operating system n : (computer science) software that controls the execution of computer programs and may provide various services [syn: OS]

Jargon File (4.3.1, 29 Jun 2001) :
operating system n. [techspeak] (Often abbreviated `OS') The foundation software of a machine; that which schedules tasks, allocates storage, and presents a default interface to the user between applications. The facilities an operating system provides and its general design philosophy exert an extremely strong influence on programming style and on the technical cultures that grow up around its host machines. Hacker folklore has been shaped primarily by the {Unix}, {ITS}, {{TOPS-10}}, {{TOPS-20}}/{TWENEX}, {WAITS}, {{CP/M}}, {{MS-DOS}}, and {Multics} operating systems (most importantly by ITS and Unix).

The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (27 SEP 03) :
operating system (OS) The low-level software which handles the interface to peripheral hardware, schedules tasks, allocates storage, and presents a default interface to the user when no application program is running. The OS may be split into a kernel which is always present and various system programs which use facilities provided by the kernel to perform higher-level {house-keeping} tasks, often acting as servers in a {client-server} relationship. Some would include a graphical user interface and {window system} as part of the OS, others would not. The {operating system loader}, BIOS, or other firmware required at {boot time} or when installing the operating system would generally not be considered part of the operating system, though this distinction is unclear in the case of a {rommable operating system} such as RISC OS. The facilities an operating system provides and its general design philosophy exert an extremely strong influence on programming style and on the technical cultures that grow up around the machines on which it runs. Example operating systems include 386BSD, AIX, AOS, Amoeba, Angel, Artemis microkernel, BeOS, Brazil, COS, {CP/M}, CTSS, Chorus, DACNOS, DOSEXEC 2, GCOS, GEORGE 3, GEOS, ITS, KAOS, Linux, LynxOS, MPV, {MS-DOS}, MVS, Mach, Macintosh operating system, Microsoft Windows, MINIX, Multics, {Multipop-68}, Novell NetWare, {OS-9}, {OS/2}, Pick, Plan 9, QNX, RISC OS, STING, System V, {System/360}, {TOPS-10}, {TOPS-20}, TRUSIX, TWENEX, {TYMCOM-X}, Thoth, Unix, {VM/CMS}, VMS, VRTX, VSTa, VxWorks, WAITS. {FAQ (ftp://src.doc.ic.ac.uk/usenet/news-info/comp.os.research)}. Usenet newsgroup: {news:comp.os.research}. [Jargon File] (1999-06-09)

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An operating system (OS) is a set of system software programs in a computer that regulate the ways application software programs use the computer hardware and the ways that users...

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