operating system

American  

[op-uh-rey-ting sis-tuhm] / ˈɒp ə reɪ tɪŋ ˌsɪs təm /

noun

Computers.

1. the collection of software that directs a computer's operations, controlling and scheduling the execution of other programs, and managing storage, input/output, and communication resources. OS

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operating system British  

noun

1. the set of software that controls the overall operation of a computer system, typically by performing such tasks as memory allocation, job scheduling, and input/output control

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operating system Scientific  

/ ŏp′ə-rā′tĭng /

1. Software designed to handle basic elements of computer operation, such as sending instructions to hardware devices like disk drives and computer screens, and allocating system resources such as memory to different software applications being run. Given uniformly designed operating systems that run on many different computers, developers of software do not need to concern themselves with these problems, and are provided with a standard platform for new programs.

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operating system Cultural  

1. The software that allows computer users to run applications with the hardware of a specific system. Microsoft® Windows® or Apple® Computer's OS are examples of operating systems.

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Etymology

Origin of operating system

First recorded in 1960–65

Example Sentences

Australian game developer Jon Manning said he asked Scott Forstall, then-head of Apple's mobile operating system iOS, about the phenomenon when he bumped into him in California in 2010.

From Barron's • Mar. 29, 2026

Origin Quantum in 2023 announced the sale of China’s first commercial quantum computer and made the Origin Pilot operating system open source this year, allowing it to reach beyond U.S. export controls.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 23, 2026

"Mac and Windows are the operating systems for the personal computer. OpenClaw is the operating system for personal AI," Nvidia's chief executive Jensen Huang said in a statement.

From Barron's • Mar. 16, 2026

The case claims the shop built into the PlayStation's operating system was designed to make players a "captive class".

From BBC • Mar. 10, 2026

It was so good, in fact, that it became—and remains—the operating system on which literally millions of computers around the world run.

From "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell