DBMS stands for Database Management System. It is a software application that allows users to create, store, modify, and retrieve data from a database. It provides an interface between the user and the database, enabling efficient management of data.

DBMS is not just a collection of queries or a high-level language. It is a comprehensive system that encompasses various components and functionalities to handle data effectively. The correct answer is option 'D' - DBMS stores, modifies, and retrieves data. Let's understand this in detail.

- Database Storage: DBMS stores data in an organized manner. It uses data structures like tables, indexes, and views to store and manage data. These structures provide efficient storage and retrieval mechanisms, ensuring data integrity and security.

- Data Modification: DBMS allows users to modify the data stored in the database. It supports operations like insertion, deletion, and update of data. Users can add new records, delete existing ones, or modify the values of specific attributes.

- Data Retrieval: DBMS enables users to retrieve data from the database based on their requirements. It supports various query languages like SQL (Structured Query Language), which allow users to formulate queries to retrieve specific data or generate reports.

- Data Security and Integrity: DBMS provides mechanisms to ensure data security and integrity. It allows users to define access controls, granting or restricting permissions based on user roles. It also enforces integrity constraints to maintain the consistency and accuracy of data.

- Data Concurrency Control: DBMS handles multiple concurrent transactions efficiently. It ensures that data modifications made by one transaction do not interfere with the operations of other transactions. It employs techniques like locking and timestamp-based concurrency control to maintain data consistency.

- Data Backup and Recovery: DBMS provides mechanisms for data backup and recovery. It allows users to create backups of the database periodically, ensuring data availability in case of system failures or disasters. It also supports recovery procedures to restore the database to a consistent state.

- Data Independence: DBMS provides a layer of abstraction between the physical storage of data and the way it is accessed. This allows users and applications to interact with the database without worrying about the underlying storage details. It provides data independence, making it easier to modify the database schema without affecting the applications using it.

In conclusion, DBMS is a software system that stores, modifies, and retrieves data from a database. It offers various functionalities like data storage, data modification, data retrieval, data security, concurrency control, backup and recovery, and data independence.