kernel

[kur-nl] /ˈkɜr nl/
noun
1.
the softer, usually edible part contained in the shell of a nut or the stone of a fruit.
2.
the body of a seed within its husk or integuments.
3.
a whole seed grain, as of wheat or corn.
4.
South Atlantic States. the pit or seed of a peach, cherry, plum, etc.
5.
the central or most important part of anything; essence; gist; core:
His leadership is the kernel of the organization.
6.
Mathematics. the set of elements that a given function from one set to a second set maps into the identity of the second set.
7.
Also called rumpf. Physical Chemistry. the remainder of an atom after the valence electrons have been removed.
verb (used with object), kerneled, kerneling or (especially British) kernelled, kernelling.
8.
to enclose as a kernel.
Origin
before 1000; Middle English kirnel, Old English cyrnel, diminutive of corn seed, corn1
Related forms
kernelless, adjective
kernelly, adjective
Examples from the web for kernel
  • At the center of each poppy seed-size fuel particle is a uranium kernel.
  • Whole-wheat pasta contains the entire grain seed, usually referred to as the kernel.
  • As the kernel heats up, water inside it releases steam, putting more and more pressure on the kernel until it explodes.
  • Though there may be a kernel of truth, it is to miss the point.
  • There is a kernel of truth in the article, but not much.
  • To check, pull back husks and try popping a kernel with your thumbnail.
  • The kernel of a simple idea has led to a much lager possibility.
  • One kernel pops, but it seems to be an isolated event.
  • After ten minutes, a tiny kernel of gold emerges from the flame.
  • Some plant foods are also high in saturated fats such as coconut oil, palm oil and palm kernel oil.
British Dictionary definitions for kernel

kernel

/ˈkɜːnəl/
noun
1.
the edible central part of a seed, nut, or fruit within the shell or stone
2.
the grain of a cereal, esp wheat, consisting of the seed in a hard husk
3.
the central or essential part of something
verb -nels, -nelling, -nelled (US) -nels, -neling, -neled
4.
(intransitive) (rare) to form kernels
Derived Forms
kernel-less, adjective
Word Origin
Old English cyrnel a little seed, from corn seed; see corn1
Word Origin and History for kernel
n.

Old English cyrnel "seed, kernel, pip," from Proto-Germanic *kurnilo- (cf. Middle High German kornel, Middle Dutch cornel), from the root of corn "seed, grain" (see corn (n.1)) + -el, diminutive suffix. Figurative sense of "core or central part of anything" is from 1550s.

kernel in Science
kernel
  (kûr'nəl)   

  1. A grain or seed, as of a cereal grass, enclosed in a husk.

  2. The inner, usually edible seed of a nut or fruit stone.


kernel in Technology


(Note: NOT "kernal").
1. The essential part of Unix or other operating systems, responsible for resource allocation, low-level hardware interfaces, security etc. See also microkernel.
2. An essential subset of a programming language, in terms of which other constructs are (or could be) defined. Also known as a core language.
(1996-06-07)