[Tutor] Virtual Machine Terminology

[Vicki Stanfield]

Is Python itself or tual machine is a machine written in software, which provides an abstract machine? Confused by the term itself, I went  to applications. In a layered application the virtual machine acts as th and found this or a program written in Python considered to be a virtual machine? Confused by the term itself, I went online and found this definition:

A virtual machine is a machine written in software, which provides an abstract layer to applications. In a layered application the virtual machine acts as the lowest layer, providing abstraction over the native environment. If an application is be ported to another environment only the virtual machine needs to be re implemented. The application layers written above it remain unchanged, as they use the same abstract interface to the virtual machine.

This definition seems to fit almost any programming or scripting language. Is a BASH script which handles printing also then a virtual machine? Or even the operating system? Can anyone shed some light on this for me?

--vicki