# kernel

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈkɜː.nəl/ · frequency rank #13,374

## Definitions
1. The core, center, or essence of an object or system.
2. The central (usually edible) part of a nut, especially once the hard shell has been removed.
3. A single seed of grain, especially of corn or wheat.
4. The stone of certain fruits, such as peaches or plums.
5. A small mass around which other matter is concreted; a nucleus; a concretion or hard lump in the flesh.
6. The central part of many computer operating systems which manages the system's resources and the communication between hardware and software components.
7. The core engine of any complex software system.
8. The simplified input to an algorithm that has undergone kernelization.
9. A function used to define an integral transform.
10. The set of pairs of elements in the domain of f which are mapped to the same value; the equivalence relation x≡y⟺f(x)=f(y).
11. The set of elements of the domain of f which are mapped to an identity element.
12. The set of elements of the domain of f which are mapped to an identity element.
13. The set of elements of the domain of f which are mapped to an identity element.
14. The equalizer of f and the zero morphism from X to Y, denoted operatorname kerf.
15. The equalizer of f and the zero morphism from X to Y, denoted operatorname kerf.
16. The set of members of a fuzzy set that are fully included (i.e., whose grade of membership is 1).
17. The human clitoris.
18. The nucleus and electrons of an atom excluding its valence electrons.

## Etymology
From Middle English kernel, kirnel, kürnel, from Old English cyrnel, from Proto-West Germanic *kurnil, diminutive of Proto-Germanic *kurną (“seed, grain, corn”), equivalent to corn + -le. Cognate with Yiddish קערנדל (kerndl), Middle Dutch kernel, cornel, Middle High German kornel. Related also to Old Norse kjarni (“kernel”).

## Easily confused with
- **Keynes** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kernel-vs-keynes)
- **keel** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/keel-vs-kernel)
- **kern** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kern-vs-kernel)
- **Keane** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/keane-vs-kernel)
- **keene** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/keene-vs-kernel)
- **Karel** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/karel-vs-kernel)
- **kennel** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kennel-vs-kernel)
- **keener** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/keener-vs-kernel)
- **kenner** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kenner-vs-kernel)
- **Kearney** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kearney-vs-kernel)

## Common misspellings (9)
`ekrnel`, `kenrel`, `kerenl`, `kernell`, `kernle`, `kernnel`, `kerrnel`, `kkernel`, `krenel`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/kernel