cork

1 of 2

noun

1
a
: the elastic tough outer tissue of the cork oak that is used especially for stoppers and insulation
b
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
What sets these insoles apart from the rest is the shock-absorbing cork layer that molds to your specific arch shape. Shannon Ullman, Verywell Health, 10 Oct. 2024 In order to maintain a depth not normally discernible in no- and low-ABV liquids, roughly 1.2 grams per liter of natural grape must were added back into the liquid before the cork was applied. Brad Japhe, Forbes, 9 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 See all Example Sentences for cork 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cork.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of cork was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near cork

Cite this Entry

“Cork.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cork. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

cork

1 of 2 noun
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

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.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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