verb · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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/ʌnˈkɔː(ɹ)k/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -ɔː(ɹ)k
CMU ARPABET:AH0 N K AO1 R K
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
verb
Meaning 1
To open (a bottle or other container sealed with a cork or stopper) by removing the cork or stopper from.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Examples
uncork a bottle of wine
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
verb
Meaning 2
To release.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
verb
Meaning 3
draw the cork from (bottles)
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
uncork the French wine
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: cork
Broader terms: open, open up
4
verb
Meaning 4
release
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
uncork his anger
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: unleash
History
Etymology
From un- + cork.
Across languages
Translations
20 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Aromanian:
distup
— to open by removing the cork or stopper from
Bulgarian:
отпушвам
(otpušvam)
— to open by removing the cork or stopper from
Dutch:
ontkurken
— to open by removing the cork or stopper from
Estonian:
malŝtopi
— to open by removing the cork or stopper from
Finnish:
korkata
— to open by removing the cork or stopper from
French:
déboucher
— to open by removing the cork or stopper from
German:
entkorken
— to open by removing the cork or stopper from
Italian:
stappare
— to open by removing the cork or stopper from
Norman:
dêbouchi
— to open by removing the cork or stopper from
Portuguese:
desarrolhar
— to open by removing the cork or stopper from
Romanian:
destupa
— to open by removing the cork or stopper from
Russian:
отку́поривать
(otkúporivatʹ)
— to open by removing the cork or stopper from
Russian:
отку́порить
(otkúporitʹ)
— to open by removing the cork or stopper from
Slovak:
odzátkovať
— to open by removing the cork or stopper from
Spanish:
descorchar
— to open by removing the cork or stopper from
Swedish:
korka upp
— to open by removing the cork or stopper from
Ukrainian:
відкорко́вувати
(vidkorkóvuvaty)
— to open by removing the cork or stopper from
Ukrainian:
відкоркува́ти
(vidkorkuváty)
— to open by removing the cork or stopper from
