kɔ:k n. & v. --n. 1
the buoyant light-brown bark of the cork-oak. 2 a bottle-stopper of cork or
other material. 3 a
float of cork used in
fishing etc. 4
Bot. a
protective layer of
dead cells
immediately below the bark of
woody plants. 5 (attrib.)
made of cork. --v.tr. (often foll. by up) 1
stop or
confine. 2
restrain (feelings etc.). 3
blacken with burnt cork. øcork-oak a S.
European oak, Quercus suber. cork-tipped
Brit. (of a cigarette) having a
filter of corklike material. øøcorklike adj. [ME f. Du. & LG kork f.
Sp. alcorque cork sole, perh. f. Arab.]