kernel
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kernel
the central, softer part within a hard shell of a nut or fruit stone; the whole seed of grain such as wheat or corn: Popcorn is made from the kernel of corn.; the nucleus or essential part of anything: There was a kernel of truth in everything she said.
Not to be confused with:
colonel – a commissioned officer in the armed forces
Abused, Confused, & Misused Words by Mary Embree Copyright © 2007, 2013 by Mary Embree
ker·nel
(kûr′nəl)n.
1. A grain or seed, as of a cereal grass, enclosed in a husk.
2. The usually edible seed inside the hard covering of a nut or fruit stone.
3.
a. The central or most important part; the core: "The kernel of his practical religion was that it was respectable, and beneficial to one's business, to be seen going to services" (Sinclair Lewis).
b. A small amount of something, especially when potentially developing into something else: detected a kernel of anger in his remarks.
ker′neled adj.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
kernel
(ˈkɜːnəl)n
1. (Botany) the edible central part of a seed, nut, or fruit within the shell or stone
2. (Botany) the grain of a cereal, esp wheat, consisting of the seed in a hard husk
3. the central or essential part of something
vb, -nels, -nelling or -nelled, -nels, -neling or -neled
(intr) rare to form kernels
[Old English cyrnel a little seed, from corn seed; see corn1]
ˈkernel-less adj
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
ker•nel
(ˈkɜr nl)n., v. -neled, -nel•ing (esp. Brit.) -nelled, -nel•ling. n.
1. the softer, usu. edible part contained in the shell of a nut or the stone of a fruit.
2. the body of a seed within its husk.
3. the central or most important part of anything; essence; core.
v.t. 4. to enclose in or as if in a kernel.
[before 1000; Middle English kirnel, Old English cyrnel, diminutive of corn corn1]
ker′nel•less, adj.
ker′nel•ly, adj.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ker·nel
(kûr′nəl)1. A grain or seed, especially of a cereal plant such as corn or wheat, that is enclosed in a husk.
2. The inner, often edible part of a nut or stone of a fruit, such as a peach or plum.
The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary, Second Edition. Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
kernel
Past participle: kernelling
Gerund: kernelled
| Imperative |
|---|
| kernel |
| kernel |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Noun | 1. |  kernel - the inner and usually edible part of a seed or grain or nut or fruit stone; "black walnut kernels are difficult to get out of the shell"plant part, plant structure - any part of a plant or fungus seed - a small hard fruit |
| 2. | kernel - a single whole grain of a cereal; "a kernel of corn" corn - the dried grains or kernels or corn used as animal feed or ground for meal | |
| 3. | kernel - the choicest or most essential or most vital part of some idea or experience; "the gist of the prosecutor's argument"; "the heart and soul of the Republican Party"; "the nub of the story" essence, heart and soul, inwardness, nitty-gritty, pith, substance, gist, meat, nub, sum, core, marrow, heart, center, centre cognitive content, mental object, content - the sum or range of what has been perceived, discovered, or learned bare bones - (plural) the most basic facts or elements; "he told us only the bare bones of the story" hypostasis - (metaphysics) essential nature or underlying reality haecceity, quiddity - the essence that makes something the kind of thing it is and makes it different from any other quintessence - the purest and most concentrated essence of something stuff - a critically important or characteristic component; "suspense is the very stuff of narrative" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
kernel
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
kernel
nounThe American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
لُب الموضوع، جَوْهَر المسألَهنواة، حَبَّة، بِذْرَه
jádropecka
kerne
lényegemagva
kjarni
branduolys
būtībakauliņškodols
kernel
[ˈkɜːnl] N [of nut] → almendra f; (= seed) [of fruit] → pepita f, pepa f (LAm); [of grain] → grano m (fig) [of matter, question] → meollo m, núcleo ma kernel of truth → un grano de verdad
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
kernel
n (lit, fig) → Kern m
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
kernel
(ˈkəːnl) noun1. the softer substance inside the shell of a nut, or the stone of a fruit such as a plum, peach etc.
2. the central, most important part of a matter.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.