Abbreviated "OS", an operating
system is
software that provides the user with an interface as well as hardware support and support to run and use applications. Operating systems also accept input and display output by communicating with hardware and interacting with any respective applications or
system software that might be using that hardware.
Windows, Windows NT, MacOS, UNIX, Novell Netware, DOS,
BSD and BeOS are all examples of operating systems.
Linux on the other hand, is a kernel.