kernel
//ˈkɜːrnəl//
Noun
kernelSingular
kernelsPlural
1
The softer, usually edible part contained within the shell of a nut or the stone of a fruit.
She cracked open the walnut to get to the kernel inside.
2
A grain or seed, especially of a cereal plant such as wheat or corn.
The farmer examined the kernels of wheat before harvest.
3
The central or most important part of something; the core or essence.
The kernel of his argument is that education should be free for everyone.
4
The central component of an operating system that manages system resources and communication between hardware and software.
The kernel manages how the computer's memory is allocated to different programs.