Source : WordNet®

Linux
     n : an open-source version of the UNIX operating system

Source : Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing

Linux
     
         ("Linus Unix") /li'nuks/ (but see below)
        An implementation of the {Unix} {kernel} originally written
        from scratch with no proprietary code.
     
        The kernel runs on {Intel} and {Alpha} hardware in the general
        release, with {SPARC}, {PowerPC}, {MIPS}, {ARM}, {Amiga},
        {Atari}, and {SGI} in active development.  The SPARC, PowerPC,
        ARM, {PowerMAC} - {OSF}, and 68k ports all support {shells},
        {X} and {networking}.  The Intel and SPARC versions have
        reliable {symmetric multiprocessing}.
     
        Work on the kernel is coordinated by Linus Torvalds, who holds
        the copyright on a large part of it.  The rest of the
        copyright is held by a large number of other contributors (or
        their employers).  Regardless of the copyright ownerships, the
        kernel as a whole is available under the {GNU} {General Public
        License}.  The GNU project supports Linux as its kernel until
        the research {Hurd} kernel is completed.
     
        This kernel would be no use without {application programs}.
        The GNU project has provided large numbers of quality tools,
        and together with other {public domain} software it is a rich
        Unix environment.  A compilation of the Linux kernel and these
        tools is known as a Linux distribution.  Compatibility modules
        and/or {emulators} exist for dozens of other computing
        environments.
     
        The kernel version numbers are significant: the odd numbered
        series (e.g. 1.3.xx) is the development (or beta) kernel which
        evolves very quickly.  Stable (or release) kernels have even
        major version numbers (e.g. 1.2.xx).
     
        There is a lot of commercial support for and use of Linux,
        both by hardware companies such as {Digital}, {IBM}, and
        {Apple} and numerous smaller network and integration
        specialists.  There are many commercially supported
        distributions which are generally entirely under the GPL.  At
        least one distribution vendor guarantees {Posix} compliance.
        Linux is particularly popular for {Internet Service
        Providers}, and there are ports to both parallel
        supercomputers and {embedded} {microcontrollers}.  {Debian} is
        one popular {open source} distribution.
     
        The pronunciation of "Linux" has been a matter of much debate.
        Many, including Torvalds, insist on the short I pronunciation
        /li'nuks/ because "Linus" has an /ee/ sound in Swedish
        (Linus's family is part of Finland's 6% ethnic-Swedish
        minority) and Linus considers English short /i/ to be closer
        to /ee/ than English long /i:/ dipthong.  This is consistent
        with the short I in words like "linen".  This doesn't stop
        others demanding a long I /li:'nuks/ following the english
        pronunciation of "Linus" and "minus".  Others say /li'niks/
        following {Minix}, which Torvalds was working on before Linux.
     
        {More on pronunciation
        (http://www.foldoc.org/pub/linux-pronunciation)}.
     
        {LinuxHQ (http://www.linuxhq.com/)}.  {slashdot
        (http://slashdot.org/)}.  {freshmeat (http://freshmeat.net/)}.
        {Woven Goods (http://www.fokus.gmd.de/linux/)}.  {Linux
        Gazette (http://www.ssc.com/lg)}.
     
        {funet Linux Archive (ftp://ftp.funet.fi/pub/Linux)}, {US
        mirror (ftp://sunsite.unc.edu/pub/Linux/)}, {UK Mirror
        (ftp://sunsite.doc.ic.ac.uk/packages/Linux/)}.
     
        (2000-06-09)