log

[ lawg, log ]

/ lɔg, lɒg /

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noun

a portion or length of the trunk or of a large limb of a felled tree.

something inert, heavy, or not sentient.

Nautical. any of various devices for determining the speed of a ship, as a chip log or patent log.

any of various records, made in rough or finished form, concerning a trip made by a ship or aircraft and dealing with particulars of navigation, weather, engine performance, discipline, and other pertinent details; logbook.

Movies. an account describing or denoting each shot as it is taken, written down during production and referred to in editing the film.

a register of the operation of a machine.

Also called well log. a record kept during the drilling of a well, especially of the geological formations penetrated.

Computers. any of various chronological records made concerning the use of a computer system, the changes made to data, etc.

Radio and Television. a written account of everything transmitted by a station or network.

Also called log of wood. Australian Slang. a lazy, dull-witted person; fool.

verb (used with object), logged, log·ging.

to cut (trees) into logs: to log pine trees for fuel.

to cut down the trees or timber on (land): We logged the entire area in a week.

to enter in a log; compile; amass; keep a record of: to log a day's events.

to make (a certain speed), as a ship or airplane: We are logging 18 knots.

to travel for (a certain distance or a certain amount of time), according to the record of a log: We logged 30 miles the first day. He has logged 10,000 hours flying time.

verb (used without object), logged, log·ging.

to cut down trees and get out logs from the forest for timber: to log for a living.

Verb Phrases

Also log on, sign on. Computers. to enter identifying data, as a username or password, into a database, mobile device, or computer, especially a multiuser computer or a remote or networked system, so as to to access and use it: Log in to start your work session. Log in to your account to pay your bill online.
to enter or include any item of information or data in a record, account, etc.

log off / out Computers. to terminate a session.

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Origin of log

1350–1400; Middle English logge, variant of lugge pole, limb of tree; compare obsolete logget pole; see lugsail, logbook

OTHER WORDS FROM log

loggish, adjectiveun·logged, adjective

Other definitions for log (2 of 5)

log²

[ lawg, log ]

/ lɔg, lɒg /

noun

Mathematics. logarithm.

Other definitions for log (3 of 5)

log-

variant of logo- before a vowel: logarithm.

Other definitions for log (4 of 5)

-log

variant of -logue: analog.

Other definitions for log (5 of 5)

log.

abbreviation

logic.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use log in a sentence

Turn off the TV, put down your phone, and log off the computer.
Why Your New Year’s Diet Will Fail|Carrie Arnold|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The young man weaves through clusters of bamboo and cuts a diagonal slash into a tree, positioning a hollow log at the end.
The Congo's Forgotten Colonial Getaway|Nina Strochlic|December 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Official Donetsk Republic business was log-jammed because the high command had only one stamp for documents and identity papers.
East Ukraine: Back in the USSR|Jamie Dettmer|November 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
One morning a few years ago, the editor left his apartment to find an ax stuck into a log on his doorstep.
The Kremlin Is Killing Echo of Moscow, Russia’s Last Independent Radio Station|Anna Nemtsova|November 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The Spires gather data every time somebody uses them; they log each “product.”
Font of Invention||September 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
You see, I stuck to him like a log to a root, but for the first week or so 'twant no use—not a bit.
The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun;|Various
Neither of us spoke again, and at length the squat log buildings of Pend d' Oreille loomed ahead of us in the night.
Raw Gold|Bertrand W. Sinclair
“There are no sahib-log in the town,” he said, for Malcolm deemed it advisable to begin by a question on that score.
The Red Year|Louis Tracy
In the centre was a log-house, larger and more pretentious than many log-houses which he had seen in the South.
The Cromptons|Mary J. Holmes
Instead, he came to me and lifted to my knee one of those ponderous feet of his, and tried to pull me from my log.
The Soldier of the Valley|Nelson Lloyd

British Dictionary definitions for log (1 of 3)

log¹

/ (lɒɡ) /

noun

a section of the trunk or a main branch of a tree, when stripped of branches
(modifier) constructed out of logsa log cabin

a detailed record of a voyage of a ship or aircraft
a record of the hours flown by pilots and aircrews
a book in which these records are made; logbook

a written record of information about transmissions kept by radio stations, amateur radio operators, etc

a device consisting of a float with an attached line, formerly used to measure the speed of a shipSee also chip log
heave the log to determine a ship's speed with such a device

Australian a claim for better pay and conditions presented by a trade union to an employer

like a log without stirring or being disturbed (in the phrase sleep like a log)

verb logs, logging or logged

(tr) to fell the trees of (a forest, area, etc) for timber

(tr) to saw logs from (trees)

(intr) to work at the felling of timber

(tr) to enter (a distance, event, etc) in a logbook or log

(tr) to record the punishment received by (a sailor) in a logbook

(tr) to travel (a specified distance or time) or move at (a specified speed)

Word Origin for log

C14: origin obscure

British Dictionary definitions for log (2 of 3)

log²

/ (lɒɡ) /

noun

short for logarithm

British Dictionary definitions for log (3 of 3)

-log

combining form

a US variant of -logue

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for log

log

[ lôg ]

A logarithm.

Other Idioms and Phrases with log

log

In addition to the idiom beginning with log

also see:

easy as pie (rolling off a log)
like a bump on a log
sleep like a log

log

Origin of log

OTHER WORDS FROM log

Other definitions for log (2 of 5)

Other definitions for log (3 of 5)

Other definitions for log (4 of 5)

Other definitions for log (5 of 5)

Words related to log

How to use log in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for log (1 of 3)

Word Origin for log

British Dictionary definitions for log (2 of 3)

British Dictionary definitions for log (3 of 3)

Scientific definitions for log

Other Idioms and Phrases with log