kernel

American  

[kur-nl] / ˈkɜr nl /

noun

kernels plural

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

Derived Forms

• kernel-less
  adjective
• kernelless
  adjective
• kernelly
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• kernels
  plural

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

See Examples For:

kernel kernels kerneled kernelled

So both of them have a kernel of truth, but none of it is the full truth.

From Barron's ● Jun. 25, 2026

When she came to “Rooster,” she said, Cristle was a conceptual kernel she teased into a labyrinth.

From Salon ● May 11, 2026

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

From Slate ● Feb. 27, 2026

There’s still a kernel of disbelief that this is his job.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 6, 2026

Okay, maybe my kernel can sometimes be nice.

From "Saints and Misfits" by S.K. Ali

She devised a system that hulled and cleaned corn kernels, and then used mechanical pestles or stamping mechanisms to process the kernels into meal that could be used to bake bread and make other food.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 9, 2026

Iran's track record of feeding kernels of truth alongside false information has sown doubt among many critics of the regime inside and outside the country.

From BBC ● Mar. 15, 2026

If plant breeders can learn to trigger or replicate this activation of WUS-D1, it may be possible to create new wheat varieties that produce more kernels per plant.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 19, 2025

Its kernels are soaked in fragrant pozole and brewed into a hearty breakfast drink known as atole.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 13, 2025

The sweetness of the kernels perfumed the air around them.

From "Healer of the Water Monster" by Brian Young

Time was the great millstone, which ground us to dust like kerneled wheat.

From "Crispin: The Cross of Lead" by Avi

The sun was just setting when the captain and Chris reappeared bearing gourds full of smoking fish, and sweet sugary yams, and ears of curious small kernelled Indian corn.

From The Boy Chums in the Forest or Hunting for Plume Birds in the Florida Everglades by Davis, J. Watson

Related Words

• fruit
• grain
• meat
• morsel
• nut