kernel
noun · verb
Simple meaning
The central part of a nut.
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
kurnuhlSay the bold part a little louder.
IPA pronunciation (US)
ˈkɝnəl
This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
noun
The core, center, or essence of an object or system.
botany
A single whole grain of a cereal
botany
A single seed or grain, especially of corn or wheat.
botany
The central (usually edible) part of a nut, especially once the hard shell has been removed.
A small mass around which other matter is concreted; a nucleus; a concretion or hard lump in the flesh.
verb
To crenellate
To enclose within a kernel
Word at a Glance
- Difficulty
- A2 · Elementary (estimated)
- Frequency
- Common
- Typical Use
- Varies by meaning
Word Aura™
How this word commonly comes across.
Aura for this meaning
This meaning: The central (usually edible) part of a nut, especially once the hard shell has been removed.
Used this way, kernel is a reasonably familiar word that usually carries little praise or criticism of its own. It usually sounds natural in a wide range of settings.
- Emotional tone
- Neutral
- Formality
- Neutral
- Intensity
- Not strongly marked
- How common
- Moderately common
- Connotation
- Matter-of-fact
- Usage feel
- Neutral and straightforward
Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.
More ways to use kernel
- “Black walnut kernels are difficult to get out of the shell.”noun
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Common Patterns and Combinations
How this word naturally appears with others.
Similar Words, What’s the Difference?
Close in meaning, but not always interchangeable.
Word Family
Related forms, grouped by how they connect.
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Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.