1
: the inner softer part of a seed, fruit stone, or nut
… as brown in hue as hazelnuts, and sweeter than the kernels.—
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare2
: a whole seed of a cereal
a kernel of corn
3
: a central or essential part : germ
like many stereotypes … this one too contains some kernels of truth—S. M. Lyman
S. M. Lyman4
chiefly dialectal
: a fruit seed
5
mathematics
: a subset of the elements of one set (such as a group) that a function (such as a homomorphism) maps onto an identity element of another set
Synonyms
Examples of kernel in a Sentence
There's not a kernel of truth in what they say.
the kernel of your argument seems to be the inevitability of human migration into space
Recent Examples on the Web
Finger links to the stats for the 6.4 kernel, showing 172,346 lines of his code in it, roughly 0.5 percent of the total.
—Kevin Purdy, Ars Technica, 24 June 2024
Although corn is self-fertile, in small backyard plantings less than 5% of the kernels on any corn plant result from self-pollination, while the rest are the result of pollen that comes from another plant.
—Joshua Siskin, Orange County Register, 20 June 2024
Rebecca reminds me that every kernel has its role: Some are responsible for growing into new plants; others feed family and community.
—Ashlea Halpern, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Apr. 2023
Finally, give the ear a gentle squeeze to feel the kernels through the husk; avoid ears that have missing kernels or soft spots.
—Jill Schildhouse, Southern Living, 13 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for kernel 
Kevin Purdy, Ars Technica, 24 June 2024
Although corn is self-fertile, in small backyard plantings less than 5% of the kernels on any corn plant result from self-pollination, while the rest are the result of pollen that comes from another plant.
—Joshua Siskin, Orange County Register, 20 June 2024
Rebecca reminds me that every kernel has its role: Some are responsible for growing into new plants; others feed family and community.
—Ashlea Halpern, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Apr. 2023
Finally, give the ear a gentle squeeze to feel the kernels through the husk; avoid ears that have missing kernels or soft spots.
—Jill Schildhouse, Southern Living, 13 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for kernel
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'kernel.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Kernel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kernel. Accessed 7 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
kernel
noun
ker·nel
ˈkərn-ᵊl 
1
a
: the inner softer part of a seed, fruit stone, or nut
b
: a whole grain or seed of a cereal (as wheat or corn)
2
: a central or basic part
a kernel of truth in what they say
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