linux

L1I1N1U1X8
/ˈlɪ.nəks//ˈlɪ.nʊks/

noun

Any unix-like operating system that uses the Linux kernel.

OriginEnglish Unix ← Middle English servise ← Old English serfis →
Very commonScrabble 12
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Meanings

linux1

nounlinux (plural linuxes)

plural linuxes · alternative Linux

  1. computingAny unix-like operating system that uses the Linux kernel.

Linux2

proper nounLinux (countable and uncountable, plural Linuxes or (slang) Linuxen)

plural Linuxes · plural slang Linuxen

  1. countableuncountablestrictlycomputingThe Unix-like open-source computer operating system kernel created by Linus Torvalds in 1991.
  2. broadlycountableuncountableAny operating system that uses this kernel.

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
gnu/linux

Origin

  1. Ancient GreekΛῖνος (Lînos)
  2. LatinLinus
  3. EnglishLinus
  4. Proto-Indo-European*mel-
  5. Proto-Indo-European*ml̥tós?
  6. Proto-Italic*moltos
  7. Latinmulti-
  8. Proto-Indo-European*pel-der.?
  9. Latinmultiplex
  10. Englishmultiplexed
  11. Proto-Indo-European*h₁én
  12. Proto-Italic*en
  13. Proto-Italic*en-
  14. Latinin-
  15. Ancient Greekμορφή (morphḗ)der.?
  16. Latinfōrma
  17. Latinfōrmō
  18. Latinīnfōrmō
  19. Late Latinīnfōrmātiō
  20. Middle Englishenformacioun
  21. Englishinformation
  22. Proto-Indo-European*ḱe?
  23. Proto-Indo-European*ḱóm
  24. Proto-Italic*kom
  25. Proto-Italic*kom-
  26. Latincon-
  27. Latinputus
  28. Latinputō
  29. Latincomputō
  30. Latincomputāre
  31. Frenchcomputer
  32. Englishcomputing
  33. Proto-Indo-European*ser-der.?
  34. Proto-Italic*serwos
  35. Latinservus
  36. Latinservitium
  37. Old Frenchservise
  38. Old Englishserfis
  39. Middle Englishservise
  40. Englishservice
  41. EnglishMultiplexed Information and Computing Service
  42. EnglishMultics
  43. Englisheunuchinflu.
  44. EnglishUnix
  45. EnglishLinux

Blend of Linus + Unix, from the name of its creator Linus Torvalds.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Arabic لِينُكْس, لينوكس
  • لِينُكْس (līnuks)operating system
  • لينوكس (līnūks)operating system
  • لِينِكْس (līniks)operating system
Bulgarian Ли́нукс
  • Ли́нукс (Línuks)operating system
Chinese Mandarin 利納克斯 /利纳克斯
  • 利納克斯 /利纳克斯 (Lìnàkèsī)operating system
Esperanto Linukso, Linux
  • Linuksooperating system
  • Linuxoperating system
Finnish Linux
  • Linuxoperating system
French Linux
  • Linuxoperating system
German Linux
  • Linuxoperating system
Greek Λίνουξ, Linux
  • Λίνουξ (Línoux)operating system
  • Linuxoperating system
Hebrew לינוקס
  • לינוקס (linuks)operating system
Hindi लिनुक्स, लिनक्स
  • लिनुक्स (linuks)operating system
  • लिनक्स (linaks)operating system
Indonesian Linux
  • Linuxoperating system
Italian Linux
  • Linuxoperating system
Japanese リナックス, リヌックス
  • リナックス (Rinakkusu)operating system
  • リヌックス (Rinukkusu)operating system
Korean 리눅스
  • 리눅스 (Rinukseu)operating system
Malay Linux
  • Linuxoperating system
Persian لینوکس
  • لینوکس (linuks)operating system
Polish Linux
  • Linuxoperating system
Portuguese Linux
  • Linuxoperating system
Romanian Linux
  • Linuxoperating system
Russian Ли́нукс
  • Ли́нукс (Línuks)operating system
Swedish Linux
  • Linuxoperating system
Thai ลินุกซ์
  • ลินุกซ์ (lí-núk)operating system
Turkish Linux, Linuks
  • Linuxoperating system
  • Linuksoperating system
Ukrainian Лі́нукс
  • Лі́нукс (Línuks)operating system
Urdu لینکس
  • لینکس (linaks)operating system
Cite this entry
APA

linux. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/linux

MLA

“linux.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/linux. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “linux,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/linux.

Source: linux on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.