1. (n.) The inner part of a grain or seed, often the edible part\; all that is within the seed walls; the edible substance contained in the shell of a nut; hence, anything included in a shell, husk, or integument; as, the kernel of a nut.

2. (n.) A single seed or grain; as, a kernel of corn.

3. (n.) A small mass around which other matter is concreted; a nucleus; a concretion or hard lump in the flesh.

4. (n.) The central, substantial or essential part of anything; the gist; the core; as, the kernel of an argument.

5. (v. i.) To harden or ripen into kernels; to produce kernels.

Brazil nut acorn almond almond paste amande amande douce amandes mondees axiom axis bench mark berry bird seed bitter almond blanched almonds burnt almond cardinal point center center of action center of gravity centroid centrum chief thing climax core cornerstone crisis critical point crux dead center diameter diaphragm distillate distillation elixir epicenter equator essence essential essential matter fabric flaxseed flower focus fruit fundamental gist goober goober pea grain gravamen great point ground-pea groundnut hayseed heart high point hub hypostasis important thing inner essence interior issue keystone landmark linseed main point main thing marrow material material point matter mean meat median medium medulla metacenter middle midmost midriff midst milestone nave navel noisette noix nub nubbin nucleus nut nuts and bolts omphalos peanut peanut butter pip pit pith pivot postulate principle quid quiddity quintessence real issue salient point salted peanuts sap seed sine qua non soul spirit stone storm center stuff substance substantive point sum and substance sweet almond the bottom line the nitty-gritty the point thick thick of things turning point umbilicus upshot waist waistline zone