cork

¹cork

noun \ˈkȯrk\

Definition of CORK

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

Examples of CORK

1. the cork of a wine bottle

Origin of CORK

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: 14th century

Rhymes with CORK

Cork, dork, fork, pork, quark, stork, torque

²cork

transitive verb

Definition of CORK

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

1. a corked bottle of wine
2. a player who has been accused of illegally corking his bats

First Known Use of CORK

1535

Cork

geographical name \ˈkȯrk\

Definition of CORK

1

county SW Ireland in Munster area 2880 square miles (7459 square kilometers), pop 447,829

2

city & port, its ∗, at head of Cork harbor pop 123,062

Rhymes with CORK

cork, dork, fork, pork, quark, stork, torque

cork

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Cork oak (Quercus suber) with sections of cork removed—Eric Carle/Shostal Associates

Outer bark of the evergreen cork oak (Quercus suber), native to the Mediterranean. In its broad sense, cork consists of the irregularly shaped, thin-walled, wax-coated cells that make up the peeling bark of many trees, but commercially only cork-oak bark is called cork. Cork is obtained from the new outer sheath of bark that forms after the original rough outer bark has been removed. This outer sheath can be stripped repeatedly without hurting the tree. Cork is unique because it is made of air-filled, watertight cells that are a remarkably effective insulating medium. The air pockets make cork very light in weight. Though specialized plastics and other artificial substances have replaced cork in some of its former uses, it has retained its traditional importance as a stopper for bottles of wine and other alcoholic beverages.