Meaning & use
kernel
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountable
The soft, edible part inside the hard shell of a nut or the stone of a fruit.
Grammar: Countable: a walnut kernel.
Patterns
- a kernel of something
She cracked the shell and ate the kernel.
Almond kernels can be ground into flour.
Squirrels eat the kernels of acorns.
nouncountable
A single grain of corn or another cereal.
Grammar: Often corn kernel.
Patterns
- a kernel of corn
Each kernel of popcorn pops when heated.
The farmer checked the kernels for mold.
A few kernels of corn were stuck in his teeth.
nounusually singularfigurative
The central or most important part of an idea or story.
Grammar: Often followed by of: a kernel of truth.
Patterns
- a kernel of something
There was a kernel of truth in her complaint.
The kernel of the plan is simple.
The story grew from a small kernel of an idea.
nouncountablecomputing
The core part of an operating system that controls the hardware.
Grammar: Used in computing.
Patterns
- the Linux kernel
The kernel manages memory and devices.
A bug in the kernel crashed the computer.
He updated the operating system kernel.
Word forms
| plural | kernels |
|---|
Common combinations
- kernel of truth
- There is a kernel of truth in the rumor.
- corn kernel
- A corn kernel got stuck in my tooth.
- popcorn kernel
- A few unpopped popcorn kernels lay in the bowl.
- walnut kernel
- She chopped the walnut kernels.
- kernel of an idea
- The kernel of an idea became a company.
Synonyms and how they differ
- core
- Core is the center of an object, but kernel is a small essential part.
- seed
- A seed grows into a plant, but a kernel is often the edible part.
- nub
- Nub is informal and means the central point of an issue.
- essence
- Essence is abstract, while kernel can be literal.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: kernel or colonel?
kernel vs colonel
A colonel is a military officer. It is pronounced exactly like kernel but spelled differently.
Practice
There was a ___ of truth in what he said, even though most of it was exaggerated.
Choose one answer.
A kernel of truth means a small essential part that is true. Husk, shell and peel are outer coverings.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “kernel”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.