corky
/'kɔ:ki/
Definition
- Adjective:
- Having the qualities of cork; cork-like: Describes something that is light, buoyant, or has the texture or appearance of cork.
- (Of wine) Tainted by a faulty cork: Specifically in winemaking, describes wine that has an unpleasant musty smell and taste due to a contaminated cork, often caused by the chemical compound TCA (2,4,6-trichloroanisole). This is the primary and most specific meaning.
Usage
The adjective "corky" is used attributively (before a noun) or predicatively (after a linking verb like "is" or "tastes"). Its most precise and common use is in the context of wine tasting to describe a specific fault.
Examples
- Adjective:
- The sommelier identified the bottle as corky and offered a replacement. (The wine expert said the wine was tainted by the cork.)
- We had to send the wine back because it had a corky aroma. (The wine smelled musty and off due to the cork.)
- The bark of the tree had a corky texture. (The tree's bark was light and porous like cork.)
Advanced Usage
- "Corky" vs. "Corked": In professional wine terminology, "corked" is the more common term for tainted wine. "Corky" can be synonymous but is sometimes considered a less technical synonym.
- While "corked" is the standard term, some tasters describe the fault as a corky character.
Variants and Related Words
- Cork (n): The bark of the cork oak, used especially for stoppers.
- Corked (adj): (Of wine) tainted by a faulty cork. This is the most frequent term for the wine fault.
- Corkiness (n): The state or quality of being corky.
Synonyms
- Tainted (adj): Contaminated or spoiled.
- Musty (adj): Having a stale, damp smell.
- Off (adj): Not fresh or in good condition.
Antonyms
- Sound (adj): (Of wine) in good condition, free from faults.
- Clean (adj): (Of a wine's aroma and taste) pure, without defects.
- Pristine (adj): In its original pure state.
Notes on Different Meanings
The informal, colloquial meanings of "corky" (such as lively, excitable, or frivolous) are now largely archaic or obsolete in modern English. The primary contemporary meaning relates specifically to the fault in wine or, less commonly, to a cork-like texture.
Adjective
-
(of wine) tainted in flavor by a cork containing excess tannin
-
a corked port
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