command interpreter

command interpreter
command-line interpreter

   <operating system> A program which reads textual commands from
   the user or from a file and executes them.  Some commands may
   be executed directly within the interpreter itself
   (e.g. setting variables or control constructs), others may
   cause it to load and execute other files.

   {Unix}'s command interpreters are known as {shells}.

   When an {IBM PC} is {boot}ed {BIOS} loads and runs the
   {MS-DOS} command interpreter into memory from file COMMAND.COM
   found on a {floppy disk} or {hard disk} drive.  The commands
   that COMMAND.COM recognizes (e.g. COPY, DIR, PRN) are called
   internal commands, in contrast to external commands which are
   executable files.

   (1995-03-16)