🌳 A prickly tree 🌲 A tree with corky bark

cork tree

7.2

A tree with thick rough bark like cork that is often grown for its bark or look

noun
/kɔrk tri/

: corcho

The cork tree in our garden turns a brilliant yellow each autumn.

Examples

The cork tree is known for its thick bark.
Many cork trees are found in Mediterranean regions.
Commercial use of the cork tree bark is common in certain Asian countries.
He admired the deeply fissured bark of the old cork tree near the temple.
The cork tree's thick, spongy bark is often harvested in the Mediterranean regions.
Many gardeners choose to plant a cork tree for its unique appearance and shade.
In summer, the cork tree provides a cool refuge from the hot sun in the park.

Synonyms

Chinese cork oak

vscork tree

7.2

A medium to large tree from China, Japan, and Korea with thick corky bark

is a broader term for similar trees found and sometimes cultivated in other regions

Quercus variabilis

vscork tree

Specialized

9.9

A medium to large oak tree from China, Japan, and Korea with thick bark like cork

is the common general term rather than the scientific name

Phellodendron amurense

vscork tree

Specialized

9.9

A tree from China that loses its leaves in winter and has yellow autumn leaves and thick, rough bark

focuses on trees prized for thick corky bark and appearance rather than scented bark

Surface Forms

cork tree singular

cork trees plural

Morphology

cork + tree

The meaning 'a tree with corky bark' is directly and predictably composed from 'cork' (the bark material) + 'tree' (a perennial woody plant). This transparent compound follows a common noun+noun formation found across languages, so a B1 learner who knows both words would readily infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Cork tree often refers to trees with thick, rough bark that looks and feels like cork, and people sometimes use or admire that bark. That's why the name means 'a tree with corky bark'.