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cork

n. C / U
B1 Intermediate US //ˈkɔɹk// UK //kˈɔːk// cork

n. a light, tough material that comes from the bark of a specific oak tree. You often see it used as a stopper for wine bottles or for making soft boards to pin notes on.

n. the buoyant, light brown, elastic outer bark of the cork oak tree, Quercus suber. Often used for bottle stoppers, insulation, and flooring; the term also refers to a small float used in angling.


SIMPLE

He pulled the cork out of the wine bottle.

CONTEXTUAL

The designer chose to use natural cork for the office flooring because it is sustainable and absorbs sound well.

COMPLEX

Harvested primarily in Mediterranean regions, the thick bark is stripped from the tree every nine years without causing permanent damage, making cork a highly renewable resource for industrial applications.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Origin

From Irish Corcaigh (“bog, marsh, swamp”).

Usage

Uncountable when referring to the material; countable when referring to a specific bottle stopper or a fishing float.

Idioms2 entries

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