cork

cork — noun

1. A lightweight, spongy material taken from the outer bark of a specific oak tree

1.nounB1
Definition

A lightweight, spongy material taken from the outer bark of a specific oak tree that grows in southern Europe and northern Africa, valued for its ability to float, insulate heat, and compress; used for making items such as bottle stoppers, floor tiles, and bulletin boards.

Example

Adina chose cork flooring for her apartment because it stays warm in winter.

collocation: cork flooring

Cork is harvested from cork oak trees every nine years without harming the tree.

passive: cork is harvested from [tree]

Common collocations
  • cork flooring
  • cork tile
  • cork board
  • cork oak
  • natural cork
  • sheet of cork
Synonyms
  • cork bark

    more specific — refers to the raw bark before processing

  • phellem

    technical botanical term; not used in everyday language

Usage Note

Uncountable when referring to the material itself (e.g., 'The floor is made of cork'). Countable when referring to individual pieces made from it, such as bottle stoppers (see sense 2). Frequently appears as a modifier in compound nouns: cork board, cork tile, cork floor.

Common Mistakes

I need a cork of wine for the recipe.
I need a cup of wine for the recipe.
'cork' refers to the material or stopper, not a unit of liquid measurement.

2. A small cylindrical object, traditionally made of cork bark but also made of pla

2.nounB1
Definition

A small cylindrical object, traditionally made of cork bark but also made of plastic or other materials, that fits tightly into the neck of a bottle to seal the contents inside; most commonly associated with wine bottles.

Example

Iker carefully twisted the cork out of the bottle of red wine.

collocation: twist/pull the cork

The cork broke apart when Ryan tried to open the old bottle.

Common collocations
  • pull the cork
  • twist the cork
  • wine cork
  • cork pops out
  • natural cork
  • synthetic cork
  • cork screw
Synonyms
  • stopper

    broader term — fits any bottle-closing object made of any material

  • bottle stopper

    more explicit; commonly used for decorative or reusable stoppers

Usage Note

Countable noun. Although the traditional material is cork bark, modern stoppers made of plastic, rubber, or silicone are also commonly called corks. The phrase 'cork it!' as an informal way of telling someone to be quiet is derived from this sense.

Common Mistakes

The waiter handed me the cork of the wine.
The waiter handed me the cork from the wine bottle.
Use 'from' to indicate the cork was removed from the bottle.

3. A county situated in the southwestern part of Ireland, known for its rugged coas

3.nounB2
Definition

A county situated in the southwestern part of Ireland, known for its rugged coastline, dairy farming, and as the largest county in the country by land area.

Example

Anthony spent a week driving through County Cork's green countryside last spring.

travel context: County Cork

County Cork is the largest county in Ireland by land area.

Common collocations
  • County Cork coastline
  • southwest Ireland
  • dairy farming

Usage Note

Proper noun. Always capitalised as 'County Cork'. In Irish addresses, 'Co. Cork' is the standard abbreviation. Do not confuse with Cork city, which is the urban centre within the county.

4. The second-largest city in the Republic of Ireland, serving as the main urban ce

4.nounB2
Definition

The second-largest city in the Republic of Ireland, serving as the main urban centre and port of County Cork, situated on the River Lee near the southern coast.

Example

Cork city has a busy harbour where ships arrive from across the Atlantic.

Cork city as a port

The university in Cork attracts students from all over the world.

Common collocations
  • Cork Harbour
  • River Lee
  • southern Ireland

Usage Note

Proper noun. When distinguishing the city from the county, write 'Cork city' (lowercase 'c') or 'Cork City' with capitals for the administrative body. The harbour, Cork Harbour, is one of the largest natural harbours in the world.

Common Mistakes

I visited Cork county and saw the city.
I visited County Cork and saw Cork city.
Use 'County Cork' for the county and 'Cork city' for the urban centre to avoid confusion.

cork — verb

Word family

  • corked
    adjectiveB2
  • uncork
    verbB2
  • corkage
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All three terms relate to the same material, but they differ in specificity and context. 'Cork' is the everyday word used for the material itself and for products made from it — you buy cork tiles or cork stoppers, not phellem tiles. 'Cork bark' refers more narrowly to the raw bark stripped from the cork oak tree before it is processed. 'Phellem' is a scientific term from botany describing the outer dead-cell layer of tree bark; you will only encounter it in textbooks or plant biology papers. 'Corkwood' sometimes appears as a synonym but is misleading — it refers to a different plant (Erythrina) whose wood is cork-like. For everyday usage, stick with 'cork'; use 'cork bark' when emphasising the raw material before manufacturing.

cork barkphellemcorkwood

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • made of cork
  • cork in the bottle
  • pull the cork

Etymology

LatinSpanishEnglish

The word 'cork' entered English through Spanish 'corcho', which came from Latin 'cortex' meaning bark or outer shell. The cork oak tree (Quercus suber) has been harvested for its bark in the Mediterranean region for thousands of years. The use of cork as a bottle stopper became widespread in the 17th century when glass bottles became common for storing wine. Over time, the word also came to refer to the object used as a stopper, and eventually to the verb meaning to seal something with a cork.