cork

[kawrk] /kɔrk/
noun
1.
the outer bark of an oak, Quercus suber, of Mediterranean countries, used for making stoppers for bottles, floats, etc.
2.
Also called cork oak. the tree itself.
3.
something made of cork.
4.
a piece of cork, rubber, or the like used as a stopper, as for a bottle.
5.
Angling. a small float to buoy up a fishing line or to indicate that a fish is biting.
6.
Also called phellem, suber. Botany. an outer tissue of bark produced by and exterior to the phellogen.
verb (used with object)
7.
to provide or fit with cork or a cork.
8.
to stop with or as if with a cork (often followed by up).
9.
to blacken with burnt cork.
Idioms
10.
blow / pop one's cork, Informal. to lose one's temper; release one's emotional or physical tension.
Origin
1275-1325; Middle English cork(e) < Arabic qurq < Latin quercus oak
Related forms
recork, verb (used with object)
British Dictionary definitions for pop one's cork

cork

/kɔːk/
noun
1.
the thick light porous outer bark of the cork oak, used widely as an insulator and for stoppers for bottles, casks, etc
2.
a piece of cork or other material used as a stopper
3.
an angling float
4.
(botany) Also called phellem. a protective layer of dead impermeable cells on the outside of the stems and roots of woody plants, produced by the outer layer of the cork cambium
adjective
5.
made of cork related adjective suberose
verb (transitive)
6.
to stop up (a bottle, cask, etc) with or as if with a cork; fit with a cork
7.
(often foll by up) to restrain: to cork up the emotions
8.
to black (the face, hands, etc) with burnt cork
Derived Forms
corklike, adjective
Word Origin
C14: probably from Arabic qurq, from Latin cortex bark, especially of the cork oak

Cork

/kɔːk/
noun
1.
a county of SW Republic of Ireland, in Munster province: crossed by ridges of low mountains; scenic coastline. County town: Cork. Pop: 447 829 (2002). Area: 7459 sq km (2880 sq miles)
2.
a city and port in S Republic of Ireland, county town of Co Cork, at the mouth of the River Lee: seat of the University College of Cork (1849). Pop: 186 239 (2002)
Gaelic name Corcaigh
Word Origin and History for pop one's cork

cork

n.

c.1300, from Spanish alcorque "cork sole," probably via Arabic and ultimately from Latin quercus "oak" (see Quercus) or cortex (genitive corticis) "bark" (see corium).

v.

1570s, "to put a cork sole on a shoe," from cork (n.)). Meaning "to stop with a cork" is from 1640s. Related: Corked; corking.

Cork

place in Ireland, anglicized from Irish Corcaigh, from corcach "marsh."

pop one's cork in Science
cork
  (kôrk)   

  1. The outermost layer of tissue in woody plants that is resistant to the passage of water vapor and gases and that becomes the bark. Cork is secondary tissue, formed on the outside of the tissue layer known as cork cambium. The cell walls of cork cells contain suberin. Once they mature, cork cells die. Also called phellem.

  2. The lightweight, elastic outer bark of the cork oak, which grows near the Mediterranean Sea. Cork is used for bottle stoppers, insulation, and other products.


Slang definitions & phrases for pop one's cork

pop one's cork

verb phrase

To become furious; explode angrily; BLOW one's TOP: I didn't expect her to pop her cork either (1930s+)


cork

Related Terms

blow one's top, pop one's cork