The kanji and the word are exactly the same. That means they share meanings as well.

Since this word is made up of a single kanji, it should use the kun'yomi reading. When learning the kanji, you didn't learn that reading, so here's a mnemonic to help you with this word:

Look down! You're holding something covered in fur. It's a furry kettle (け)! It's the weirdest kettle you've ever seen, but presumably it keeps the water hot for much longer.