kernel

noun
UK: /ˈkɜːnl/
US: /ˈkɜːrnl/

  1. The inner, edible part of a nut or seed.

    1. I ate the kernel of the nut quickly.
    2. The antioxidant compounds in the kernel contribute to its health benefits.

  2. The central or most important part of something.

    1. That's the very kernel of his argument!
    2. The kernel of the issue is that we lack sufficient funding for the project.

  3. (computing) The core of an operating system, managing system resources.

    1. The kernel manages the computer's memory.
    2. A Linux kernel update improved the overall system performance.

Synonyms

core essence heart gist

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "kernel" in English means: The inner, edible part of a nut or seed., The central or most important part of something., (computing) The core of an operating system, managing system resources..

The phonetic transcription of "kernel" is /ˈkɜːnl/ in British English and /ˈkɜːrnl/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "kernel": core, essence, heart, gist.

Example usage of "kernel": "I ate the kernel of the nut quickly.". More examples on the page.