French word

écorce

Pronunciation

IPA/ekɔʁs/

Meaning

  • feminine nounbark

Example

L'écorce de cet arbre se détache facilement.

The bark on this tree peels off easily.

Illustration for écorce (bark)

More examples

L'écorce d'arbre protège le tronc contre les intempéries.

Tree bark protects the trunk from the elements.

Core concept

A firm, fibrous outside layer enclosing softer living material.

Common phrases

  • écorce d'arbre

    tree bark

  • écorce rugueuse

    rough bark

Similar words

peau: The soft outer layer covering a person or animal's body.
pelure: The outer skin peeled from a fruit or vegetable.
zeste: The thin, strongly scented outer layer of a citrus fruit.
croûte: The hard outer layer formed on the surface of bread or cheese by baking.

Definition in French

Couche extérieure qui recouvre le tronc et les branches d'un arbre, souvent dure ou fibreuse; on appelle aussi ainsi la peau épaisse de certains fruits ou végétaux.

Word origin

The French noun écorce developed from Old French escorce, inherited from Latin cortex for bark or an outer layer.

Usage tips

  • For citrus fruit, écorce can mean the whole thick peel, while zeste refers specifically to the thin colored outer part.

Other meanings

  • peelnoun
  • rindnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • écorcerdebarkverb
  • écorçagedebarkingnoun

Word lists with this word