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.

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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

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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.

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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

Explanation

Whether it’s the kernel of a pistachio nut or the kernel of wisdom in a story, kernel can refer to the center or essential part of something. The word kernel traces back to the Old English word cyrnel, which is related to corn. If you have ever eaten corn on the cob, you ate the kernels. Popcorn is made by heating corn kernels until they explode, or "pop." Like these examples, sometimes kernel means "a small bit" or "single piece," as in a story someone tells you that couldn't possibly have happened as described, but still has a kernel of truth about human nature.

Example Sentences

Implicit in the articles is the sense that there may be a kernel of something good in a society that enables individuals to rise above oppression.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 22, 2026

There’s a kernel of truth to Wyle’s fake PSA.

From Salon • Jan. 14, 2026

There is no kernel of truth here: The claims of wrongdoing are fabricated from top to bottom.

From Slate • Jan. 12, 2026

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

From Science Daily • Jan. 7, 2026

Aunty Ifeoma laughed, and her children reproduced the throaty sounds, their teeth flashing like the insides of a cracked palm kernel.

From "Purple Hibiscus" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Related Words

• fruit
• grain
• meat
• morsel
• nut