noun

1. the light, thick, elastic outer bark of an oak tree, the cork oak (Quercus suber) of the beech family, that grows in the Mediterranean area: used for floats, stoppers, linoleum, insulation, etc.
2. 1. a piece of cork or something made of cork; esp., a stopper for a bottle, cask, etc.
   2. a similar stopper made of rubber, glass, etc.
3. Bot. the dead, waterproof outer bark of the stems of woody plants

Etymology: ME < Sp corcho, cork, ult. (via ? Ar al-qurq) < L quercus, oak: see fir

adjective

transitive verb

1. to stop or seal with a cork
2. to hold back; check
3. to blacken with burnt cork