Real Dictionary

Kern in American English
Jerome (David)1885-1945; U.S. composer

kern in American English 1
that part of the face of a printed character which projects beyond the body
to put a kern on (a printed character)
noun: a part of the face of a type projecting beyond the body or shank, as in certain italic letters
transitive verb: to form or furnish with a kern, as a type or letter

kern in American English 2
a medieval Irish or Scottish foot soldier armed with light weapons
noun: the central area of any horizontal section of a wall, column, etc., within which the resultant forces of all compressive loads must pass if there is to be only compression at that point

kern in American English 3
noun: a band of lightly armed foot soldiers of ancient Ireland

kern in American English 4
intransitive verb: to produce or form kernels, hard grain, or seed
noun: a kernel, as of a nut; a grain, as of sand or wheat
transitive verb: to cause to granulate, esp. to granulate salt

kern in American English 6
noun

Kern in British English
noun: Jerome (David). 1885–1945, US composer of musical comedies, most notably Show Boat (1927)

kern in British English 1
noun: the part of the character on a piece of printer's type that projects beyond the body
verb: to furnish (a typeface) with a kern

kern in British English 2
noun: a lightly armed foot soldier

kern in British English 3
noun: the central area of a wall, column, etc, through which all compressive forces pass