/kawrk/ , n.
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 . Bot. an outer tissue of bark produced by and exterior to the phellogen.
7. blow or pop one's cork , Informal. to lose one's temper; release one's emotional or physical tension.
v.t.
8. to provide or fit with cork or a cork.
9. to stop with or as if with a cork (often fol. by up ).
10. to blacken with burnt cork.
[ 1275-1325; ME cork ( e ) qurq quercus oak ]