kernel

Meaning

Noun

1. The core, center, or essence of an object or system.
2. The central (usually edible) part of a nut, especially once the hard shell has been removed.
3. A single seed or grain, especially of corn or wheat.
4. (US) The stone of certain fruits, such as peaches or plums.
5. A small mass around which other matter is concreted; a nucleus; a concretion or hard lump in the flesh.
6. The central part of many computer operating systems which manages the system's resources and the communication between hardware and software components.
7. The core engine of any complex software system.
8. The simplified input to an algorithm that has undergone kernelization.
9. A function used to define an integral transform.
10. 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).
11. (broadly) The set of elements of the domain of f which are mapped to an identity element.
12. (broadly) The set of elements of the domain of f which are mapped to an identity element.
13. (broadly) The set of elements of the domain of f which are mapped to an identity element.
14. The equalizer of f and the zero morphism from X to Y, denoted operatorname kerf.
15. The equalizer of f and the zero morphism from X to Y, denoted operatorname kerf.
16. The set of members of a fuzzy set that are fully included (i.e., whose grade of membership is 1).
17. (slang) The human clitoris.
18. The nucleus and electrons of an atom excluding its valence electrons.

Verb

1. To enclose within a kernel
2. To crenellate

Opposite of

userland, support

Synonyms

core

grain

nucleus

seed

stone

🪨

essence

gist

heart

❤️

pit

center

meat

🥩

substance

pith

nub

nut

pip

centre

marrow

nitty-gritty

pulp

heart and soul

null space

granule

inwardness

crux

sum

point

study

theme

umbilicus

verify

virtue

life blood

inner part

true meaning

resident control program

nucleator

heart of wood

inner core

cereal crop

cereal seed

bean

bellybutton

benevolence

bone

🦴

bullseye

burden

cell

cereal

charity

Translations

noyau

🪨

Kern

núcleo

πυρήνας

nocciolo

🪨

chicco

grain

grano

centre

kern

nucleo

núcleo

gheriglio

pit

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈkɜːnəl/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: kernel

Inherited from Old English: cyrnel

Cognate with Yiddish: קערנדל

Cognate with Middle Dutch: kernel

Cognate with Middle High German: kornel

Cognate with Old Norse: kjarni

In summary

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”).