cork

noun \ ˈkȯrk \

|Updated on: 6 Aug 2018

Examples: cork in a Sentence

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

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Examples of cork in a Sentence

the cork of a wine bottle

Recent Examples of cork from the Web

The four cans hold a little more than a bottle, but without the glass or cork to worry about.

— sara kennedy, The Seattle Times, "7 fun additions for your camping kit," 2 July 2018
Before Republicans don't stop popping the corks, there's a lesson here for them as well.

— Fox News, "Ingraham: Democrats racing to the left," 28 June 2018
Staff plugged holes in the walls with newspaper or cork and painted over them, according to prosecutors.

— laura kusisto, WSJ, "NYC’s Public-Housing Authority Reaches Broad Agreement Over Safety Conditions," 11 June 2018
The most impressive way to kick off any Champagne-fueled party is to saber a bottle, popping the cork from the wine with the swipe of a knife.

— madeleine luckel, Vogue, "A Champagne Lover’s Guide to Hosting a Last-Minute Bastille Day Soirée," 13 July 2018
Food and drink, music, wine cork pull, balloon pop, silent and live auction, raffles.

— michelle jenkins, idahostatesman, "June rocks with Alive After Five, family festivals and free movie nights | Idaho Statesman," 26 May 2018
For the men’s favorite Mark McMorris of Canada, there’s a trick that even someone new to the sport can probably guess is a doozy: the backside triple cork 1440.

— victor mather, New York Times, "What Is Big Air? It’s the Olympics’ Newest Snowboard Event," 19 Feb. 2018
Jean-Pierre, a Banksy fan who aimed his phone at a cafe wall in the Marais neighborhood, where a rat sat on a flying cork, dismissed any deep thoughts behind the art.

— linda hervieux /, NBC News, "New Banksy street art appears across Paris, taking aim at refugee crisis," 27 June 2018
The government is introducing legislation to encourage the planting of more slow-growing native species, such as cork trees, holm oaks, or chestnut trees, which are more resilient to flames and can slow the advance of wildfires.

— barry hatton, The Christian Science Monitor, "Portugal races to protect its citizens against wildfires – with goats," 13 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cork.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology 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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year