kernel
IPA: kˈɝnʌɫ
noun
- The core, center, or essence of an object or system.
- (botany) The central (usually edible) part of a nut, especially once the hard shell has been removed.
- (botany) A single seed or grain, especially of corn or wheat.
- (botany, US) The stone of certain fruits, such as peaches or plums.
- A small mass around which other matter is concreted; a nucleus; a concretion or hard lump in the flesh.
- (computing) The central part of many computer operating systems which manages the system's resources and the communication between hardware and software components.
- (computing) The core engine of any complex software system.
- (programming) The simplified input to an algorithm that has undergone kernelization.
- (calculus) A function used to define an integral transform.
- (mathematics) A set of pairs of a mapping's domain which are mapped to the same value.
- (mathematics, linear algebra, group theory, functional analysis) For a given function (especially a linear transformation between vector spaces or homomorphism between groups), the set of elements in the domain which are mapped to zero; (formally) given f : X → Y, the set {x ∈ X : f(x) = 0}.
- (mathematics, category theory) For a category with zero morphisms: the equalizer of a given morphism and the zero morphism which is parallel to that given morphism.
- (mathematics, fuzzy set theory) The set of members of a fuzzy set that are fully included (i.e., whose grade of membership is 1).
- (slang) The human clitoris.
- (chemistry) The nucleus and electrons of an atom excluding its valence electrons.
verb
- To enclose within a kernel
- To crenellate
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Examples of "kernel" in Sentences
- By default the kernel logger dumped all 16 MB of output into c: \kernel. etl.
- This uses a modified Darwin kernel to bootstrap a regular, unaltered Mac OSX Leopard retail disk.
- The whole kernel is immersed in digestive enzymes and your body pulls out what it can use, Dr. Sheth said.
- The entire kernel is used in whole-grain products, making them a better source of fiber and other nutrients.
- For the last four years, the pony-tailed Jonathan Corbet, kernel developer and editor, has presented what he calls the kernel report at Australia's national Linux conference.
- It is, I suppose, the only nut in the world of which one throws away the kernel and eats the shell; but the kernel is as hard as marble, while the shell is fibrous, and tastes like stale ginger-bread.
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