kernel

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kernel

/ˈkɜː.nəl/ UK
/ˈkɝ.nəl/ US

Sounds like colonel (most accents) · Rhymes with -ɜː(ɹ)nəl

Where it comes from

From Middle English kernel, kirnel, kürnel, from Old English cyrnel, from Proto-West Germanic *kurnil, diminutive of Proto-Germanic *kurną (“seed, grain, corn”), equivalent to corn + -le. Cognate with Yiddish קערנדל (kerndl), Middle Dutch kernel, cornel, Middle High German kornel. Related also to Old Norse kjarni (“kernel”).

noun kernels

The core, center, or essence of an object or system. the kernel of an argument
Similar: crux, gist, bowels, sum, brass tacks, core, essence, drift, guts, gravamen, heart, heart and soul
The central (usually edible) part of a nut, especially once the hard shell has been removed.
A single seed of grain, especially of corn or wheat.
US The stone of certain fruits, such as peaches or plums.
A small mass around which other matter is concreted; a nucleus; a concretion or hard lump in the flesh.
The central part of many computer operating systems which manages the system's resources and the communication between hardware and software components. The Linux kernel is open-source.
Opposite: userland
The core engine of any complex software system.
The simplified input to an algorithm that has undergone kernelization.
A function used to define an integral transform. The Dirichlet kernel convolved with a function yields its Fourier series approximation.
of a function f The set of pairs of elements in the domain of f which are mapped to the same value; the equivalence relation x≡y⟺f(x)=f(y). If a function is continuous then its kernel is a closed set.
broadly, of a group homomorphism f, of a morphism f between algebraic structures The set of elements of G which are mapped to the identity of H (usually written as 0 in an additive group and as 1 in a multiplicative group).
Opposite: support
broadly, of a ring homomorphism f, of a morphism f between algebraic structures The set of elements of R which are mapped to the additive identity 0 of S.
Opposite: support
broadly, of a linear transformation f, of a morphism f between algebraic structures The set of elements of M which are mapped to the additive identity 0 of N.
Opposite: support
of a morphism f The equalizer of f and the zero morphism from X to Y, denoted operatorname kerf.
of a morphism f The source of operatorname kerf, denoted operatorname Kerf.
The set of members of a fuzzy set that are fully included (i.e., whose grade of membership is 1).
slang The human clitoris. Using the blunt end of one of the vibraphone mallets, he pried open her folds. With the balled end of the other, he rhythmically rolled over her kernel.
The nucleus and electrons of an atom excluding its valence electrons. 1. In every atom is an essential kernel which remains unaltered in all ordinary chemical changes and which possesses an excess of positive charges corresponding in number to the ordinal number of the group in the periodic table to which the element belongs.
figuratively A seed, metaphorically: a concept or principle with a distinct essence that exists within a larger context and has potential for growth, development, and propagation, by the same mental model as a seed of doubt or a kernel of truth (grain of truth), and comparable to a nugget (of wisdom, advice, etc) or a pearl (such as a pearl of wisdom). The drumbeat of warning that advanced AI could kill us all has mostly quieted; the “doomers” have been marginalized, now used by AI’s ruling class as a punch line. Yet even the most upbeat AI leaders are quick to offer kernels of warning.
Synonym of seedling (“plant variety from seedling origin”). Ashmead's Kernel
Similar: seedling

verb kernels · kerneling · kernelling · kerneled · kernelled

To enclose within a kernel
To crenellate

Thesaurus

Closest in meaning: center, sum, gist, nitty-gritty, substance, essence, inwardness, heart, marrow, meat, core, pith, nub, ver, central, colonel

Translations

Every language

noun (mathematics, algebra) set of elements mapped to zero

Español	núcleo
Português	núcleo
Français	noyau
Deutsch	Kern
Italiano	nucleo
Ελληνικά	πυρήνας pyrínas
Русский	ядро́ jadró

noun core or essence of an object or system

Español	núcleo
한국어	핵심 haeksim
日本語	核心 kakushin
中文	核心 héxīn
Português	cerne
Français	fond, cœur
Deutsch	Kern
Italiano	nucleo, nocciolo
Ελληνικά	πυρήνας pyrínas
Русский	суть sutʹ, су́щность súščnostʹ

noun central part of a nut

Español	almendra, núcleo
日本語	仁 jin
Português	miolo
Français	amande, cerneau
Deutsch	Kern
Italiano	gheriglio
Ελληνικά	πυρήνας pyrínas
Русский	ядро́ jadró, сердцеви́на serdcevína

noun single seed of corn or wheat

Español	grano
Português	grão
Français	grain
Italiano	chicco
Русский	зерно́ zernó, зёрнышко zjórnyško

noun (US) stone of certain fruits, such as peaches or plums

Español	hueso, núcleo
Português	caroço
Français	noyau
Italiano	nocciolo
Ελληνικά	πυρήνας pyrínas, κουκούτσι koukoútsi
Русский	ко́сточка kóstočka

noun (computing) central part of many computer operating systems

Español	núcleo, granelo
한국어	커널 keoneol
日本語	カーネル kāneru
Português	kernel, núcleo
Français	noyau, kernel, noyau de système d’exploitation
Deutsch	Betriebssystemkern, Kernel
Italiano	kernel
Ελληνικά	πυρήνας pyrínas
Русский	ядро́ jadró
Tiếng Việt	nhân
العربية	نَوَاة nawāh

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MLA

"kernel." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/kernel. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

kernel. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/kernel

Chicago

"kernel." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/kernel.

BibTeX

@misc{kernel_2026,
  title = {kernel},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/kernel},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}