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• log
  log

  noun

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

  variant of logo- before a vowel.
• -log
  -log

  variant of -logue.
• log.
  log.

  abbreviation

  logic.

log

¹ American  

[lawg, log] / lɔg, lɒg /

noun

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

   Put another log on the fire.

   We dragged logs from the forest and lashed them together to make a raft.

2. something resembling a log, as in shape or weight.

   Mix the softened butter and sage together, then put it on wax paper and roll it into a log.

3. 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.

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

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

6. a record of a machine's operation, maintenance, etc..

   The log shows the date of each inspection of the roller coaster, any problems noticed, and all repairs made.

   If using the photocopier for personal documents, please write your initials and the number of pages in the log.

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

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

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

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

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verb (used with object)

• logs,
  present (3rd person singular)
• logged,
  past participle,  past
• logging
  present participle

1. to cut (trees) into logs.

   The villagers logged pine trees for fuel.

2. to cut down the trees or timber on (land).

   We logged the entire area in a week.

3. to enter in a logbook or record; keep a record of.

   While at camp I logged each day’s events in a journal.

4. to make (a certain speed), as a ship or airplane.

   We are logging 18 knots.

5. to travel for (a certain distance or a certain amount of time), according to a record kept of one or more trips.

   We logged 30 miles the first day.

6. to amass (a certain amount of time, number of events, or the like) working in a particular field or engaging in a particular type of activity.

   She has logged 26 years of teaching experience at the college level.

   He logged 17 shows as a model before changing careers.

verb (used without object)

• logs,
  present (3rd person singular)
• logged,
  past participle,  past
• logging
  present participle

1. to cut down trees and remove them from the forest for timber.

   He logs for a living.

   The company has been logging in Oregon for decades.

verb phrase

1. log in

   1. Digital Technology. Also log on, sign on. to enter identifying data, such 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 access and use it.

      Log in to start your work session. Log in to your account to pay your bill online.

   2. to enter or include any item of information or data in a record, account, etc..

      Once the day’s stats have been logged in, let the captain see the logbook.

2. log off / out to terminate a session.

log ² American  

[lawg, log] / lɔg, lɒg /

noun

1. Mathematics. logarithm.

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log- ³ American  

1. variant of logo- before a vowel.

   logarithm.

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-log ⁴ American  

1. variant of -logue.

   analog.

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log. ⁵ American  

abbreviation

1. logic.

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log ¹ British  

/ lɒɡ /

noun

1. short for logarithm

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-log ² British  

combining form

1. a US variant of -logue

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log ³ British  

/ lɒɡ /

noun

1. 1. a section of the trunk or a main branch of a tree, when stripped of branches

   2. (modifier) constructed out of logs

      a log cabin

2. 1. a detailed record of a voyage of a ship or aircraft

   2. a record of the hours flown by pilots and aircrews

   3. a book in which these records are made; logbook

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

4. 1. a device consisting of a float with an attached line, formerly used to measure the speed of a ship See also chip log

   2. to determine a ship's speed with such a device

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

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

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verb

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

2. (tr) to saw logs from (trees)

3. (intr) to work at the felling of timber

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

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

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

log Scientific  

/ lôg /

1. A logarithm.

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log Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing log

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

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Usage

What does -log mean? The combining form -log is used like a suffix meaning “discourse,” either spoken or written. Discourse means "communication of thought by words." The form -log is often used in everyday and technical terms. The form -log comes from Greek -logos, meaning “word” or "discourse." To learn more about logos, you can read our entry on the English word logos here. What are variants of -log?In British English, -log is spelled with a terminal -ue, becoming -logue, as in analogue. Additional related forms include -logic and -logy. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use article on all three forms.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• loggish
  adjective
• unlogged
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Participles

• logging
  present
• logged
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• log
  simple
• logs
  simple
• have logged
  perfect
• has logged
  perfect
• am logging
  progressive
• are logging
  progressive
• is logging
  progressive
• have been logging
  perfect progressive
• has been logging
  perfect progressive

Past

• logged
  simple
• had logged
  perfect
• was logging
  progressive
• were logging
  progressive
• had been logging
  perfect progressive

Future

• will log
  simple
• will have logged
  perfect
• will be logging
  progressive
• will have been logging
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of log

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English logge, variant of lugge “pole, limb of tree”; compare obsolete logget “pole”; see lugsail

Explanation

A log is the trunk of a tree minus the branches: logging is cutting down trees. A log is also a written record of something, and logging is keeping such a record. The first type of log is a tree that's been cut down with the branches stripped. Think of a log cabin: it's made up of logs. Logging is when trees are cut down for lumber. The other type of log is some type of written record or list of messages. A ship captain keeps a log of notes on the ship's status and progress. When you make such a record, you're logging. Logging can be written or orally recorded.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

log log- log. logs logged logging

The album cover is a photo of the two-room log cabin that was Parton's actual childhood home in the 1940s and 50s, and the rest of the songs paint an idyllic picture of her childhood.

From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026

The region's hardscrabble existence is perhaps best illustrated in Dollywood's full-size replica of the humble two-room log cabin where Parton grew up with her 11 brothers and sisters in Locust Ridge, outside Sevierville.

From Barron's ● Aug. 26, 2026

“That audit log that we were talking about earlier is why Jason’s aware of that,” Langley said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 25, 2026

The state of Delaware wrongly seized and liquidated his stock after the man didn’t log into his trading account for years.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 24, 2026

Uncle placed a log on the fire and got to his feet.

From "Code Name Kingfisher" by Liz Kessler

He jerked open a log- and-barbed-wire gate that led into a pasture and motioned for me to walk through.

From "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot

The only buildings here were tiny log- and-mortar cabins, replicas of the army’s shelters.

From "Maniac Magee" by Jerry Spinelli

Lancelot kicked the log- thoughtfully, one arm on the mantelpiece, looking into the ashy glow.

From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White

"If you go into the backwoods your house must necessarily be a log- house," said an elderly gentleman, who had been a settler many years in the country.

From The Backwoods of Canada Being Letters From The Wife of an Emigrant Officer, Illustrative of the Domestic Economy of British America by Catharine Parr Strickland Traill

Dr. Lewis was the first to advocate log- wood as a tinctorial agent in connection with iron and gall compositions.

From Forty Centuries of Ink or, a chronological narrative concerning ink and its backgrounds, introducing incidental observations and deductions, parallels of time and color phenomena, bibliography, chemistry, poetical effusions, citations, anecdotes and curiosa together with some evidence respecting the evanescent character of most inks of to-day and an epitome of chemico-legal ink. by David Nunes Carvalho

"You fill in the log. Clearly, they hadn't done it."

From BBC ● Jun. 18, 2025

"So the ninth time I went under and came up and grabbed a log. And that's what kept me going."

From Reuters ● Jan. 21, 2022

“I mean, that log. You know, his, whatever…we don’t even know if he’s a real lumberman or whether he’s just a guy. So, I’ll do a little digging on that and get back to you.’

From Seattle Times ● May 24, 2017

They were making a noise that sounded like a rusty saw in a hickory log.*

From Time Magazine Archive

“Well,” he said, “I have to note my observations in the log. And you, as my collaborator, may also make a note on this red-letter day.”

From "The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate" by Jacqueline Kelly

The logs showed the group flew in Feb. 18 and out Feb. 21.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 27, 2026

Committee investigators produced 2005 passenger flight logs showing Staley and his family flew to Epstein’s island in the U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 27, 2026

According to the company's travel logs, shared with PA, the age of the missing British citizens ranges from 13 to 65.

From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026

Definitely check the meeting logs of the condo association to see what special assessments it has had recently, and at what frequency.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 19, 2026

“Suddenly, logs came down fast, bank-to-bank,” said Roald.

From "Mountain of Fire" by Rebecca E. F. Barone

Bu had entered this false information into the system, and also logged that Jang had died in a traffic accident, before closing the case, according to authorities.

From BBC ● Sep. 1, 2026

Dahlia Lithwick: Now that all of Gorsuch’s votes for the term are in and logged, do you feel as if you basically still understand who he is as a justice, Susan?

From Slate ● Aug. 31, 2026

The soaps and fragrances retailer logged higher profit in the quarter after its digital business returned to growth for the first time in five years.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 27, 2026

Coutinho said TikTok had committed to suspending all advertisements for users who are not logged in.

From Barron's ● Aug. 25, 2026

I settled at my desk and logged into my email account on my new tablet.

From "Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence" by Sonja Thomas

With the decline of logging and cannabis as livelihoods, they see income from tourists attracted by ultramarathons, mushroom foraging and other outdoor activities as a financial savior.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026

If the forests are being used to show how to boost commercial logging gains, “then that is not how we want to use our public assets.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026

Money from logging — roughly $8.5 million a year — pays for management of the demonstration forests.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026

The owner of Jif peanut butter and Folgers coffee raised its outlook for the year after logging higher-than-expected adjusted earnings and sales in the first quarter.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 27, 2026

Japan’s high rainfall also ensures that its forest regenerates quickly after logging.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond

Related Words

• chunk
• piece
• timber
• wood