Corcho vs. tapón
In Spanish, the words 'corcho' and 'tapón' are often used to refer to corks or stoppers for bottles, but they have different nuances and uses.
Corcho
This word specifically refers to cork material or a cork stopper, often made from the bark of the cork oak tree.
El corcho de la botella de vino era difícil de extraer.
(The wine bottle's cork was difficult to extract.)
Los tableros de corcho son muy útiles para colgar notas.
(Cork boards are very useful for hanging notes.)
Prefiero las botas con suelas de corcho porque son más cómodas.
(I prefer boots with cork soles because they are more comfortable.)
Tapón
This word is more general and can refer to any kind of stopper for a bottle or container, not just those made of cork.
No encuentro el tapón de la botella de agua.
(I can't find the water bottle cap.)
El tapón del frasco de medicina está bien ajustado.
(The medicine bottle stopper is tightly fit.)
Necesitamos un tapón para evitar que el fregadero se tape con comida.
(We need a stopper to prevent the sink from getting clogged with food.)
Summary
'Corcho' specifically refers to cork material or cork stoppers, while 'tapón' is a broader term that can be used for any type of stopper, regardless of material. Both terms are related to closing containers but differ in specificity and usage.