What does "kern" mean?
A corn; grain; kernel.
Kern
/kɜːn/ name, noun, verb
name, noun, verb ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A corn; grain; kernel.
- Grammar: kern is listed as name, noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: adjust spacing, alpha particle, beta particle, bumpkin.
- Useful contrasts: expand spacing, loosen spacing.
- Usage evidence: A few types have a portion of the face letter projecting over the body, as in the letter f ; this projection is called the kern, and in combination with other letters the projecting part generally extends over the next letter, as in fe. In those combinations, wherein the kern would come in contact with another letter, compound types are cast, as in the case of ff, fi, fl, ffi, ffl.
How to use "kern"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "kern" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "kern" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "kern" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "kern" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "kern" is acting as name, noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "adjust spacing" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "kern", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A corn; grain; kernel. countable, dialectal, obsolete, uncountable
- 2 Any part of a letter which extends into the space used by another letter.
"A few types have a portion of the face letter projecting over the body, as in the letter f ; this projection is called the kern, and in combination with other letters the projecting part generally extends over the next letter, as in fe. In those combinations, wherein the kern would come in contact with another letter, compound types are cast, as in the case of ff, fi, fl, ffi, ffl."
- 3 A light-armed foot soldier of the ancient militia of Ireland and Scotland; in archaic contexts often used as a term of contempt. archaic, historical
"O then belike she was old and gentle; and you rode like a kern of Ireland, your French hose off and in your strait strossers."
- 4 Alternative form of quern. alt-of, alternative
- 5 A churn.
Show 6 more definitions
- 6 the part of a metal type that projects beyond its body wordnet
- 7 The last handful or sheaf reaped at the harvest. countable, dialectal, obsolete, uncountable
- 8 A boor; a low person. Ireland, obsolete
"Yet it was held that the testimony of the common beadle of the parish, an officer of police, a vulgar, stupid kern, who stood before your own eyes, a very dolt to look on, in all the stark-staring hebetude of just wit enough to be spiteful—was to be credited as to the sense and meaning of an oration, his understanding was to be respected, and his representation trusted, where the Lord Chief Justice of England was in error."
- 9 The harvest home. countable, dialectal, obsolete, uncountable
- 10 An idler; a vagabond. UK, obsolete
"The villain kernes Who keep me fettered here."
- 11 A doll or figurine raised in celebration of a successful harvest; kern-baby. countable, dialectal, obsolete, uncountable
Verb
- 1 To adjust the horizontal space between selected pairs of letters (characters or glyphs); to perform such adjustments to a portion of text, according to preset rules.
"If you need to kern anything beyond the most commonly used pairs, you can use applications software such as Adobe PageMaker to customize pairs."
- 2 remove a portion of space between (adjacent letters) wordnet
- 3 furnish with a kern wordnet
Proper Noun
- 1 A surname.
- 2 An unincorporated community in Macon County, Missouri, United States.
- 3 A river in California, United States.
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
expand spacingloosen spacing
Example
"A few types have a portion of the face letter projecting over the body, as in the letter f ; this projection is called the kern, and in combination with other letters the projecting part generally extends over the next letter, as in fe. In those combinations, wherein the kern would come in contact with another letter, compound types are cast, as in the case of ff, fi, fl, ffi, ffl."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "kern"?
Common synonyms include: adjust spacing, alpha particle, beta particle, bumpkin, electron, elementary particle.
How do you use "kern" in a sentence?
A few types have a portion of the face letter projecting over the body, as in the letter f ; this projection is called the kern, and in combination with other letters the projecting part generally extends over the next letter, as in fe. In those combinations, wherein the kern would come in contact with another letter, compound types are cast, as in the case of ff, fi, fl, ffi, ffl.
How do you pronounce "kern"?
Pronounced /kɜːn/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English curn, cooren, variant forms of Middle English corn, see English corn and also Dutch kern, Old High German kerno, cherno, Middle High German kerne, kern, German Kern (“core, kernel”), Old Norse kjarni, Icelandic kjarni, Danish kjerne, Swedish kärna (“core, kernel”); see also kernel.
Etymology 2
From French carne (“corner; projecting angle; quill of a pen”), from Latin cardinem (“hinge”) or from Etymology 1. The verb is a back-formation from kerned, which is from the noun. Doublet of cardo.
Etymology 3
From Middle English kerne, from Middle Irish ceithern. Doublet of quaternion.
Etymology 4
The unincorporated community in Missouri is named after Robert Kern. The Kern River is named after Edward Kern.