cork (2009-10-08)

Part of Speech: noun

Pronunciation: [kôrk]

Definition: (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; (2a) a piece of cork or something made of cork; esp., a stopper for a bottle, cask, etc; (2b)a similar stopper made of rubber, glass, etc; (3)Bot. the dead, waterproof outer bark of the stems of woody plants.

Usage: While some connoisseurs will not consider a wine sealed with anything but a traditional cork, other experts suggest good modern wines can even hide beneath screw-tops.

Suggested Usage: Cork is a renewable resource because it can be harvested without hurting the tree; a Cork Oak regrows its cork in about a decade.

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