cork

noun

\ˈkȯrk

Definition of cork

(Entry 1 of 3)

1a : 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

verb

corked; corking; corks

Definition of cork (Entry 2 of 3)

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

Cork

geographical name

\ˈkȯrk

Definition of Cork (Entry 3 of 3)

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.

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

Normally, that would be dead-man-walking territory for an incumbent, and cause for the other party to start popping champagne corks. — NBC News, "No, Democrats haven't shown they're going to win the House," 6 June 2018 There's a great topwater bite at dawn, but the all-day winners are plastic shrimp like the Vudu and DOA fished under a noisy popping cork. — Frank Sargeant, AL.com, "Time for post spawn bassing on Alabama lakes," 25 Apr. 2018 Afternoons have been good for redfish and black drum on shrimp under a Mid-Coast cork. — Bink Grimes, Houston Chronicle, "Outdoors report: March 10," 9 Mar. 2018 Never be without the proper kitchen tool again with this handy gadget that includes a grater, zester, cork screw, bottle opener, spoon, three types of knife and more. — Sara Kennedy, The Seattle Times, "7 fun additions for your camping kit," 2 July 2018 The two men made the most of their girth to imitate the sounds of a water droplet hitting water, a cork being pulled and a UFO. — Bill Keveney, USA TODAY, "'America's Got Talent:' The 5 craziest auditions, plus that just-too-weird reject," 19 June 2018 The Dubs hadn’t even popped corks and social media influencer Joel Embiid was already tweeting sweet-nothings at the King. — Lee Jenkins, SI.com, "Kevin Durant and the Dagger That Foreshadowed the Broom," 12 June 2018 And the Portuguese Digitalab employed a digital algorithm to craft two abstract light fixtures from a mesh made of sustainable cork thread. — Vanessa Lawrence, ELLE Decor, "The Lexus Design Awards at Milan Design Week Highlight the Industry's Social Conscience," 26 Apr. 2018 At the X Games last year, American Hailey Langland became the first woman to land a Cab double cork 1080. — Eddie Pells, The Seattle Times, "Clark, Kim and changing of guard in Olympic halfpipe," 20 Jan. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

All of Belle's bats (at least on that trip) were corked. — Bud Shaw, cleveland.com, "A career writing about Cleveland sports: The blessings far outweighed The Curse -- Bud Shaw," 4 May 2018 In 1994, Belle was banned from seven games after he was caught using a corked bat. — Nicole Hensley, chicagotribune.com, "Albert Belle arrested on indecent exposure charges in Arizona," 26 Mar. 2018 Skipping the bottle means skipping the corkscrew—and the possibility of cardboardy corked vino. — Sunset, "6 Surprisingly Great Canned Wines for Your Camping Trip," 22 Jan. 2018 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

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.