Korken corcho cork (bark) cortiça kork kurk (schors) liège pluta sughero φελός שעם The lightweight, elastic outer bark the cork oak, species Quercus suber native to the Mediterranean region. Cork is elastic, buoyant, and resilient, used to seal wine bottles, for insulation, floats, acoustical wall covering, flooring, shoe soles, gaskets, and handles (AAT).