kernel

American  

[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, kernelled, kernelling

1. to enclose as a kernel.

kernel British  

/ 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

1. rare (intr) to form kernels

kernel Scientific  

/ 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.

---

Other Word Forms

• kernel-less adjective
• kernelless adjective
• kernelly adjective

Etymology

Origin of kernel

before 1000; Middle English kirnel, Old English cyrnel, diminutive of corn seed, corn ¹

Example Sentences

The company’s approach is to form cement into tiny balls, each about the size of a kernel of corn.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026

Is there any kernel of truth to anything she’s saying?

From Slate • Feb. 27, 2026

One key outcome of this approach is the ability to derive exact formulas for kernel functions.

From Science Daily • Jan. 7, 2026

Call it a kernel of hope to hold onto as we turn the page.

From Salon • Dec. 17, 2025

Auntie Nina carefully wipes the rice she dropped, each kernel into her napkin.

From "Clairboyance" by Kristiana Kahakauwila

Related Words

• fruit
• grain
• meat
• morsel
• nut