What does recork mean?
Recork means to close a bottle again by fitting it with a new or replacement cork. The word is especially associated with wine service, where a bottle that has been opened and then recorked may remain suitable for later use if the closure and storage conditions are sound. It can also be used more broadly when an empty bottle is prepared for reuse, as in recorking a bottle before filling it with homemade cider. The prefix re- indicates renewed action, while cork identifies the closure being replaced. Although recork is less frequent than uncork, it is useful when the emphasis is on restoring a bottle’s closure rather than removing it. In formal or technical writing, the hyphenated form re-cork is also used.
verbTo close a bottle again with a new or replacement cork.
- To put a new or replacement cork into a bottle, closing it again.
"The sommelier carefully recorked the bottle before returning it to the cellar."
"He recorked the empty bottle and used it for homemade apple cider."
"Sparkling wine should be recorked with an appropriate stopper to retain its carbonation."
A well-matched replacement cork can give a sound wine bottle a second life.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does recork come from?
Recork is a modern English compound formed by combining the prefix re-, meaning “again,” with cork. It belongs to a family of English words associated with cork and corking, including uncork and corkage. Unlike many older vocabulary items, recork developed comparatively recently from familiar English elements rather than directly from a classical language.
Related word forms
How recork is actually used
The word is relatively uncommon but standard. It normally implies replacing or renewing the cork rather than simply pushing the original cork back in.