I. ˈkərn ə l, ˈkə̄n-, ˈkəin- noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English curnel, kirnel, kernel, from Old English cyrnel, diminutive of corn grain, seed — more at corn
1. chiefly dialect : a fruit seed
2. : the inner portion of a seed within the integuments — usually used of edible seeds and of the contents of the endocarp in nuts, drupes, and similar fruits
peach kernel
as brown in hue as hazelnuts, and sweeter than the kernels — Shakespeare
3. : a whole grain or seed of a cereal
kernel of corn
wheat and barley kernels
4. chiefly dialect
a. : a hard swelling under the surface of the skin
b. : a small gland or body resembling a gland
5. : a central or essential part: as
a. : the gist of a concept or idea
a kernel of recognizable truth … which commands respect — Wall Street Journal
the kernel of this argument is made out to be a mere matter of logic — O.P.Wood
recent tendency to regard myth, ritual, and magic as the kernel instead of the husk of religion — W.R.Inge
b. : the core of a structure or organization
its position as a world power and the kernel of a great empire — Vera M. Dean
6. : core I 1t
II. verb
( kerneled or kernelled ; kerneled or kernelled ; kerneling or kernelling ; kernels )
Etymology: Middle English kyrnellen, from curnel, kirnel, kernel, n.
intransitive verb
: to form or produce kernels : ripen into kernels
transitive verb
: to envelop or enclose as a kernel
great artist kerneled in the … man of the world — Osbert Sitwell
III. transitive verb
( kerneled or kernelled ; kerneled or kernelled ; kerneling or kernelling ; kernels )
Etymology: Middle English kernelen, from Middle French querneler, kerneler, variant of creneler — more at crenel
: crenellate
IV. noun
1. : a subset of the elements of one set (as a group) that a function (as a homomorphism) maps onto an identity element of another set
2. : a computer program (as in an operating system) that controls low-level functions (as input-output and memory management), is accessed by a user through an intermediary program, and is usually written specifically for the computer on which it is run