corked

/'kɔ:kt/

Friendly

The word "corked" is primarily used as an adjective and is often related to wine. Here’s a simple explanation for new English learners:

Basic Definition:

In the context of wine, "corked" means that the wine has a bad or unpleasant taste because it has been affected by a cork that is not good. This usually happens when the cork has mold or other problems, which can change the flavor of the wine, making it taste stale or off.

Usage Instructions:

You would typically use "corked" when talking about wine that you or someone else has tasted and found to be spoiled.

Example:

• "I opened a bottle of red wine last night, but it was corked, and I couldn't enjoy it."

Advanced Usage:

In more advanced discussions, "corked" can be used to describe various wines that have been affected by poor cork quality. Wine enthusiasts often check for this issue when tasting wine.

Word Variants:

• Cork (noun) - The material used to seal wine bottles.
• Corking (verb) - The act of sealing a bottle with a cork.

Different Meaning:

In a different context, "corked" can also refer to something being blocked or stopped up, but this usage is less common. For example, "The drain was corked," meaning it was clogged.

Synonyms:

• Spoiled (in the context of wine)
• Tainted
• Faulty (for something that is broken or not working properly)

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

While there are no specific idioms or phrasal verbs that use "corked," you might encounter phrases like "corked up," which can mean something is blocked or not flowing well (not usually related to wine).

Summary:

So, when you hear "corked," think about wine that doesn’t taste right because of a bad cork.

Academic

Adjective

1. (of wine) tainted in flavor by a cork containing excess tannin
   • a corked port

Synonyms

• corky