cork

1 of 2

noun

ˈkȯrk 

1

a

: the elastic tough outer tissue of the cork oak that is used especially for stoppers and insulation

b

: phellem

2

: a usually cork stopper for a bottle or jug

3

: a fishing float

cork

2 of 2

verb

corked; corking; corks

transitive verb

1

: to furnish or fit with cork or a cork

2

: to stop up with a cork

cork a bottle

3

: to blacken with burnt cork

corked faces

Examples of cork in a Sentence

Noun

the cork of a wine bottle

Verb

a corked bottle of wine

a player who has been accused of illegally corking his bats

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The slip-on shoe is made from genuine suede leather and has a non-slip cork midsole. —Emily Weaver, People.com, 2 Nov. 2024

Make no mistake, nobody’s breathing a sigh of relief here or popping champaign corks over these numbers. —Mark Hughes, Forbes, 6 Oct. 2024

Verb

Pair with a bottle of wine or corked beverage of choice for an even more elevated gift. —Rachel Fletcher, Architectural Digest, 9 Oct. 2024

Peppers with smooth skins will be less hot than peppers that display corking. —Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, cork, bark, probably from Middle Dutch *kurk or Middle Low German korck, from Old Spanish alcorque, ultimately from dialect Arabic qurq, from Latin quercus oak — more at fir

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1535, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing cork

• cork cambium
• cork oak
• pop the cork
• put a cork in it

Kids Definition

cork

1 of 2 noun

ˈkȯ(ə)rk 

1

a

: the elastic tough outer tissue of the cork oak used especially for stoppers and insulation

b

: the tissue of a woody plant making up most of the bark and arising from an inner cambium

2

: a usually cork stopper for a bottle or jug

3

: a fishing float

cork

2 of 2 verb

1

: to furnish, fit, or seal with a cork

cork a bottle

2

: to blacken with burnt cork

Geographical Definition

Cork

geographical name

ˈkȯrk 

1

county of southwestern Ireland in Munster bordering on the Celtic Sea area 2880 square miles (7459 square kilometers), population 399,802

2

city and port at head of Cork Harbor, Ireland population 198,582

Note: The city of Cork is the capital of the county of Cork.