System vs. Application — What's the Difference?

A system is a group of interacting or interrelated elements that act according to a set of rules to form a unified whole. A system, surrounded and influenced by its environment, is described by its boundaries, structure and purpose and expressed in its functioning.

The act of applying.

A set of things working together as parts of a mechanism or an interconnecting network; a complex whole

Something applied, such as a cosmetic or curative agent.

A set of principles or procedures according to which something is done; an organized scheme or method

The act of putting something to a special use or purpose

The prevailing political or social order, especially when regarded as oppressive and intransigent

A specific use to which something is put

A set of staves in a musical score joined by a brace.

The capacity of being usable; relevance

An organism as a whole, especially with regard to its vital processes or functions

Close attention; diligence

A group of physiologically or anatomically related organs or parts

A request, as for assistance, employment, or admission to a school.

A group of interacting mechanical or electrical components

The form or document on which such a request is made.

A network of structures and channels, as for communication, travel, or distribution

(Computers) A computer program designed for a specific task or use.

A network of related computer software, hardware, and data transmission devices.

Of or being a computer program designed for a specific task or use

An organized set of interrelated ideas or principles

The act of applying or laying on, in a literal sense

A social, economic, or political organizational form

The substance applied.

An arrangement or configuration of classification or measurement

The act of applying as a means; the employment of means to accomplish an end; specific use.

An organized and coordinated method; a procedure

The act of directing or referring something to a particular case, to discover or illustrate agreement or disagreement, fitness, or correspondence.

A naturally occurring group of objects or phenomena

(computing) A computer program or the set of software that the end user perceives as a single entity as a tool for a well-defined purpose. (Also called: application program; application software.)

(Geology) A set of rock strata grouped by geologic time period and divided into series.

A verbal or written request for assistance or employment or admission to a school, course or similar.

Harmonious interaction or order

A petition, entreaty, or other request, with the adposition for denoting the subject matter.

The prevailing social order; the establishment. Used with the

The act of requesting, claiming, or petitioning something.

A collection of organized things; a whole composed of relationships among its members.

Diligence; close thought or attention.

(derogatory) Preceded by the word the: the mainstream culture, controlled by the elites or government of a state, or a combination of them, seen as oppressive to the individual.

A kind of needlework; appliqué.

(computing) A set of hardware and software operating in a computer.

(obsolete) Compliance.

(mathematics) A set of equations involving the same variables, which are to be solved simultaneously.

The act of applying or laying on, in a literal sense; as, the application of emollients to a diseased limb.

(music) A set of staves linked by a brace that indicate instruments or sounds that are to be played simultaneously.

The thing applied.

(physiology) A set of body organs having a particular function.

The act of applying as a means; the employment of means to accomplish an end; specific use.

(psychiatry) A set of alters, or the multiple personalities]] due to, for example, a dissociative personality disorder who contains them.

The act of directing or referring something to a particular case, to discover or illustrate agreement or disagreement, fitness, or correspondence; as, I make the remark, and leave you to make the application; the application of a theory.

(astronomy) A planetary system; a set of planets orbiting a star or star system

That part of a sermon or discourse in which the principles before laid down and illustrated are applied to practical uses; the "moral" of a fable.

(philosophy) A comprehensive and logically organized set of propositions or philosophical beliefs.

The capacity of being practically applied or used; relevancy; as, a rule of general application.

(RPG) A set of rules for a tabletop roleplaying game.

The act of fixing the mind or closely applying one's self; assiduous effort; close attention; as, to injure the health by application to study.

A method or way of organizing or planning.

The act of making request of soliciting; as, an application for an office; he made application to a court of chancery.

An assemblage of objects arranged in regular subordination, or after some distinct method, usually logical or scientific; a complete whole of objects related by some common law, principle, or end; a complete exhibition of essential principles or facts, arranged in a rational dependence or connection; a regular union of principles or parts forming one entire thing; as, a system of philosophy; a system of government; a system of divinity; a system of botany or chemistry; a military system; the solar system.

A request; a document containing a request; as, his application was placed on file.

Hence, the whole scheme of created things regarded as forming one complete plan of whole; the universe.

A verbal or written request for assistance or employment or admission to a school;

Regular method or order; formal arrangement; plan; as, to have a system in one's business.

The act of bringing something to bear; using it for a particular purpose;

An assemblage of parts or organs, either in animal or plant, essential to the performance of some particular function or functions which as a rule are of greater complexity than those manifested by a single organ; as, the capillary system, the muscular system, the digestive system, etc.; hence, the whole body as a functional unity.

A program that gives a computer instructions that provide the user with tools to accomplish a task;

One of the stellate or irregular clusters of intimately united zooids which are imbedded in, or scattered over, the surface of the common tissue of many compound ascidians.

The work of applying something;

A group of independent but interrelated elements comprising a unified whole;

Liquid preparation having a soothing or antiseptic or medicinal action when applied to the skin;

Instrumentality that combines interrelated interacting artifacts designed to work as a coherent entity;

A diligent effort;

A complex of methods or rules governing behavior;

A procedure or process for obtaining an objective;

A group of physiologically or anatomically related organs or parts;

An organized structure for arranging or classifying;

(physical chemistry) a sample of matter in which substances in different phases are in equilibrium;

The living body considered as made up of interdependent components forming a unified whole;

An ordered manner; orderliness by virtue of being methodical and well organized;