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1

cork

noun \ ˈkȯrk \

Updated on: 17 Apr 2018

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

See cork defined for English-language learners

See cork defined for kids

Examples of cork in a Sentence

the cork of a wine bottle

Recent Examples of cork from the Web

They shrimp are typically fished 2 to 3 feet below the cork.

— frank sargeant, AL.com, "Spring break angling action on the Alabama coast," 31 Mar. 2018
Who knows, at a more upscale establishment, perhaps the patrons were popping the cork on a bottle of Dom (Perignon) in honor of Dom (Dwyer).

— mike bianchi, Pro Soccer USA, "Dom Dwyer lifts Orlando City to win, gives up jersey as tribute to fallen fan," 31 Mar. 2018
More people are killed by errant golf balls and flying champagne corks each year than are bitten by coyotes.

— gregory b. hladky, courant.com, "Crying Wolf? Coyote Population, Incidents May Be Up, But Some Say Threat Not That Bad," 26 Mar. 2018
When a piece isn’t going well, Ms. Bhabha said she isn’t tempted to use her ax in anger on a recalcitrant block of cork.

— ted loos, New York Times, "Huma Bhabha Takes an Ax to Her Exhibit at the Met," 10 Mar. 2018
Alex Ferreira took silver in his first Olympics after improving his score each trip down the pipe and putting down a run full of amplitude and double corks.

— rachel axon, USA TODAY, "Winter Olympics medal count: How is Team USA doing in Pyeongchang?," 22 Feb. 2018
Backpack Wine suggests skipping the hassle of a cork and grabbing a four-pack of their wine sourced from Washington State vineyards.

— michaela bechler, Vogue, "This Valentine’s Day, Drink Wine From a (Sustainable) Straw," 14 Feb. 2018
The device needles wine out of a bottle without pulling the cork.

— matt o'brien and ryan nakashima, Houston Chronicle, "Show showcases the gadgets of tomorrow today," 10 Jan. 2018
The building includes layers of cork in the floors, ceilings and walls that were used to help keep the dairy's storage areas cold.

— tom daykin, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "New Haymarket Lofts apartments opening in historic building near future Bucks arena," 5 Jan. 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

2

cork

verb

Definition of cork

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

See cork defined for English-language learners

Examples of cork in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of cork from the Web

He was also suspended in 1994 for using a corked bat.

— ryan gaydos, Fox News, "Former MLB slugger Albert Belle arrested at spring training game in Arizona, report says," 26 Mar. 2018
Yet unlike France’s Champagne or Italy’s own Tuscany, the Franciacorta region is, in wine years, young; the first bottle of sparkler was corked in 1961.

— emma o'kelly, Condé Nast Traveler, "A Guide to Franciacorta, Italy's Most Chill Wine Region," 22 Feb. 2018
From the Saturday afternoon in July poolside Miller High Life, to the powerful Quadrupel in a corked bottle.

— paul daugherty, Cincinnati.com, "Paul Daugherty: UC-XU play for it all. And the winner is ...," 25 Jan. 2018
If discharge still feels excessive, don't just cork it; go to your doctor to get checked out.

— ashley oerman, Cosmopolitan, "15 Ways You’re Using Tampons Wrong," 30 Apr. 2015
Gramona’s tour also includes a look at the shiny new machinery that allows for methode Champenoise, and a deep dive into cava caves named for different females of a family that has made Spanish sparkling since 1850 — and still corks bottles by hand.

— mark c. anderson, San Francisco Chronicle, "Exploring cavas, caves and cuisine in Spain’s ‘other’ wine country," 22 Dec. 2017
Slightly less than a year later, he was ejected from a game after umpires found his broken bat to be corked.

— jay jaffe, SI.com, "Sammy Sosa may not Be a Hall of Famer, but his Legacy Is Unfairly Tarnished," 20 Dec. 2017
Wine is also available to drink at the bar with a corking fee.

— steven martinez, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Pewaukee's Craft Beer Cellar celebrates grand opening," 3 Nov. 2017
Over the past two decades, no team has kept champagne bottles corked like the Indians.

— tom verducci, SI.com, "Indians Flop in Disastrous Game 4, but Corey Kluber Awaits in Game 5 Against Yankees," 10 Oct. 2017

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.

First Known Use of cork

1535

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

Cork

geographical name \ ˈkȯrk \

Definition of Cork

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.

CORK Defined for English Language Learners

cork

verb

Definition of cork for English Language Learners

: to close (something, such as a bottle) with a cork
: to put cork inside (something, such as a baseball bat)

CORK Defined for Kids

1

cork

noun \ ˈkȯrk \

Definition of cork for Students

1 : the light but tough material that is the outer layer of bark of a tree ( cork oak ) and is used especially for stoppers and insulation

2 : a stopper for a bottle or jug

2

cork

verb

Definition of cork for Students

corked; corking

: to stop with a stopper

cork a bottle

Learn More about cork

See words that rhyme with cork Spanish Central: Translation of cork Nglish: Translation of cork for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of cork for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cork

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up cork? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

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WORD OF THE DAY

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unwilling or reluctant

BROWSE DICTIONARY

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cork

Cork

corkage

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Examples: cork in a Sentence