| 释义 |
ker·nel
I. \ˈkərnəl, ˈkə̄n-, ˈkəin-\ noun
(-s)
Etymology: Middle English curnel, kirnel, kernel, from Old English cyrnel, diminutive of corn grain, seed — more at corn
1. chiefly dialect : a fruit seed
2. : the inner portion of a seed within the integuments — usually used of edible seeds and of the contents of the endocarp in nuts, drupes, and similar fruits
< peach kernel >
< as brown in hue as hazelnuts, and sweeter than the kernels — Shakespeare >
3. : a whole grain or seed of a cereal
< kernel of corn >
< wheat and barley kernels >
4. chiefly dialect
a. : a hard swelling under the surface of the skin
b. : a small gland or body resembling a gland
5. : a central or essential part: as
a. : the gist of a concept or idea
< a kernel of recognizable truth … which commands respect — Wall Street Journal >
< the kernel of this argument is made out to be a mere matter of logic — O.P.Wood >
< recent tendency to regard myth, ritual, and magic as the kernel instead of the husk of religion — W.R.Inge >
b. : the core of a structure or organization
< its position as a world power and the kernel of a great empire — Vera M. Dean >
6. : core I 1t
II. verb
(kerneled or kernelled ; kerneled or kernelled ; kerneling or kernelling ; kernels)
Etymology: Middle English kyrnellen, from curnel, kirnel, kernel, n.
intransitive verb
: to form or produce kernels : ripen into kernels
transitive verb
: to envelop or enclose as a kernel
< great artist kerneled in the … man of the world — Osbert Sitwell >
III. transitive verb
(kerneled or kernelled ; kerneled or kernelled ; kerneling or kernelling ; kernels)
Etymology: Middle English kernelen, from Middle French querneler, kerneler, variant of creneler — more at crenel
: crenellate
IV. noun
1. : a subset of the elements of one set (as a group) that a function (as a homomorphism) maps onto an identity element of another set
2. : a computer program (as in an operating system) that controls low-level functions (as input-output and memory management), is accessed by a user through an intermediary program, and is usually written specifically for the computer on which it is run |