operating system
0 antonyms and opposites of operating system, grouped by meaning.
Noun — The main piece of software on a computer or phone that starts up first, manages the hardware such as the screen, memory and storage, and provides the shared services that all other programs rely on to run.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. noun
The main piece of software on a computer or phone that starts up first, manages the hardware such as the screen, memory and storage, and provides the shared services that all other programs rely on to run.
“The laptop shipped with an older operating system, so a few of the apps refused to install.”
2. noun computing
A particular named version or release of such software, treated as a product in its own right.
“Support for that operating system ends next year, so the office machines are being upgraded.”
How to Use Operating System
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Everyday in technology contexts; the abbreviation OS is common in writing and speech.
Etymology
A compound of operating, from operate, and system; in use in computing from the era of early mainframes, when the software that operated the machine was distinguished from the programs run on it.
Full origin of operating system →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between an operating system and an application?
An operating system is the layer underneath everything else: it controls the hardware and hands out memory, storage and processor time. An application is an individual program that asks the operating system for those resources in order to do one job, such as editing photographs or reading email.
Is Chrome an operating system?
The Chrome web browser is an application, not an operating system. ChromeOS is a separate product and is an operating system, built around that browser but responsible for managing the machine itself.
Do phones have operating systems?
Yes. Android and iOS are operating systems, doing the same job on a phone that Windows or macOS does on a computer: starting the device, managing hardware and running apps.