Definition

the inner softer part of a seed, fruit stone, or nut //… as brown in hue as hazelnuts, and sweeter than the kernels. — William Shakespeare
a whole seed of a cereal //a kernel of corn
a central or essential part germ //Like many stereotypes … this one too contains some kernels of truth. — S. M. Lyman
chiefly dialectal a fruit seed
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 & Antonyms

Synonyms

bottom line bull's-eye centerpiece core crux essence gist heart keynote meat meat and potatoes net nub nubbin nucleus pith pivot point root sum

Examples

//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

First Known Use

before 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

History and Etymology

Middle English, from Old English cyrnel, diminutive of corn

kernel

noun

Synonyms

the central part or aspect of something under consideration //the kernel of your argument seems to be the inevitability of human migration into space
Synonyms

bottom line bull's-eye centerpiece core crux essence gist heart keynote meat meat and potatoes net nub nubbin nucleus pith pivot point root sum
Related Words

course direction drift tenor
body content substance
hypothesis proposition purport subject theme thesis
Synonymous Phrases

sum and substance the long and short (or the long and the short)

kernel

noun

ker·nel

ˈkər-nᵊl

Definition

the inner softer part of a seed, fruit stone, or nut //… as brown in hue as hazelnuts, and sweeter than the kernels. — William Shakespeare
a whole seed of a cereal //a kernel of corn
a central or essential part germ //Like many stereotypes … this one too contains some kernels of truth. — S. M. Lyman
chiefly dialectal a fruit seed
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 & Antonyms

Synonyms

bottom line bull's-eye centerpiece core crux essence gist heart keynote meat meat and potatoes net nub nubbin nucleus pith pivot point root sum

Examples

//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

First Known Use

before 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

History and Etymology

Middle English, from Old English cyrnel, diminutive of corn

kernel

noun

Synonyms

the central part or aspect of something under consideration //the kernel of your argument seems to be the inevitability of human migration into space
Synonyms

bottom line bull's-eye centerpiece core crux essence gist heart keynote meat meat and potatoes net nub nubbin nucleus pith pivot point root sum
Related Words

course direction drift tenor
body content substance
hypothesis proposition purport subject theme thesis
Synonymous Phrases

sum and substance the long and short (or the long and the short)

kernel

noun

ker·nel

ˈkər-nᵊl

Definition

the inner softer part of a seed, fruit stone, or nut //… as brown in hue as hazelnuts, and sweeter than the kernels. — William Shakespeare
a whole seed of a cereal //a kernel of corn
a central or essential part germ //Like many stereotypes … this one too contains some kernels of truth. — S. M. Lyman
chiefly dialectal a fruit seed
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 & Antonyms

Synonyms

bottom line bull's-eye centerpiece core crux essence gist heart keynote meat meat and potatoes net nub nubbin nucleus pith pivot point root sum

Examples

//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

First Known Use

before 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

History and Etymology

Middle English, from Old English cyrnel, diminutive of corn

kernel

noun

Synonyms

the central part or aspect of something under consideration //the kernel of your argument seems to be the inevitability of human migration into space
Synonyms

bottom line bull's-eye centerpiece core crux essence gist heart keynote meat meat and potatoes net nub nubbin nucleus pith pivot point root sum
Related Words

course direction drift tenor
body content substance
hypothesis proposition purport subject theme thesis
Synonymous Phrases

sum and substance the long and short (or the long and the short)