4  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Kernel  \Ker"nel\,  n.  [OE.  kernel,  kirnel,  curnel,  AS  cyrnel, 
  fr  corn  grain.  See  {Corn},  and  cf  {Kern}  to  harden.] 
  1.  The  essential  part  of  a  seed;  all  that  is  within  the  seed 
  walls;  the  edible  substance  contained  in  the  shell  of  a 
  nut;  hence  anything  included  in  a  shell,  husk,  or 
  integument;  as  the  kernel  of  a  nut.  See  Illust.  of 
  {Endocarp}. 
 
  '  A  were  as  good  crack  a  fusty  nut  with  no  kernel 
  --Shak. 
 
  2.  A  single  seed  or  grain;  as  a  kernel  of  corn. 
 
  3.  A  small  mass  around  which  other  matter  is  concreted;  a 
  nucleus;  a  concretion  or  hard  lump  in  the  flesh. 
 
  4.  The  central,  substantial  or  essential  part  of  anything 
  the  gist;  the  core;  as  the  kernel  of  an  argument. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Kernel  \Ker"nel\,  v.  i.  [imp.  &  p.  p.  {Kerneled}or  {Kernelled}; 
  p.  pr  &  vb  n.  {Kerneling}  or  {Kernelling}.] 
  To  harden  or  ripen  into  kernels;  to  produce  kernels. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  kernel 
  n  1:  the  inner  and  usually  edible  part  of  a  seed  or  grain  or  nut 
  or  fruit  stone:  "black  walnut  kernels  are  difficult  to 
  get  out  of  the  shell"  [syn:  {meat}] 
  2:  a  single  whole  grain  of  a  cereal:  "a  kernel  of  corn" 
  3:  the  choicest  or  most  essential  or  most  vital  part  of  some 
  idea  or  experience:  "the  gist  of  the  prosecutor's 
  argument";  "the  nub  of  the  story"  [syn:  {substance},  {core}, 
  {center},  {essence},  {gist},  {heart},  {inwardness},  {marrow}, 
  {meat},  {nub},  {pith},  {sum},  {nitty-gritty}] 
 
  From  The  Free  On-line  Dictionary  of  Computing  (13  Mar  01)  [foldoc]: 
 
  kernel 
 
  (Note:  NOT  "kernal"). 
 
  1.    The  essential  part  of  {Unix}  or  other 
  {operating  system}s,  responsible  for  resource  allocation, 
  low-level  hardware  interfaces,  security  etc  See  also 
  {microkernel}. 
 
  2.    An  essential  subset  of  a  programming  language, 
  in  terms  of  which  other  constructs  are  (or  could  be)  defined. 
  Also  known  as  a  {core}  language. 
 
  (1996-06-07) 
 
 

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