log

[ lawg, log ]

/ lɔg, lɒg /

Save This Word!

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.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

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. 2023

How to use log in a sentence

Your phone is also listening for the chirps coming from other phones, keeping a rolling 14-day log of all the phones you come near.
A covid-fighting tool is buried in your phone. Turn it on.|Geoffrey Fowler|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
Jarring, then, to find one surrounded by leaves and mossy logs.
Mushroom Hunting at the End of the World|Danny Palumbo|November 12, 2020|Eater
It’s not going to slice through large logs, but it does a hell of a job carving kindling or cutting into a branch to find dry wood.
5 Axes and Hatchets We Love for Wood Chopping|Graham Averill|November 10, 2020|Outside Online
Your quest log is no longer overwhelming, thanks to Ubisoft’s solution to side quests, transforming them into moments called “world events.”
‘Assassin’s Creed Valhalla’ impressions: Rekindling the spirit of the series|Elise Favis|November 9, 2020|Washington Post

The agency told the court Wednesday that many of the 300,000 unscanned ballots were delivered before the election, though it did not provide any data or election mail logs to support that assertion.
USPS ballot problems unlikely to change outcomes in competitive states|Jacob Bogage, Christopher Ingraham|November 4, 2020|Washington Post
They logged every incident and released depressing day-by-day accounts of the carnage.
ISIS Fighters Are Killing Faster than Statisticians Can Count|Peter Schwartzstein|December 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Last year, it began to recover a bit for the first time since the meltdown—it was logged at $52,100 in June 2013.
The Real Reason Democrats Lost|Michael Tomasky|November 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Being “on the clock,” Uber drivers have explained to me, means that they are logged on to the app.
Uber’s “Safe Rides Fee” Is Too Little, Too Late|Olivia Nuzzi|April 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Being "on the clock," various Uber drivers have explained to me, means that they are logged on to the app.
Uber’s Biggest Problem Isn’t Surge Pricing. What If It’s Sexual Harassment by Drivers?|Olivia Nuzzi|March 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Still, all these niceties logged, there is no getting away from the crazy coaches and poor kids.
The All-American Abuse of ‘Friday Night Tykes’|Tim Teeman|January 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The Calypso is water-logged, will no longer obey her helm, and must surely sink.
The Land of Fire|Mayne Reid
She answered it, and away we floundered, almost water-logged, to our former place of anchorage in the Seaconnet Passage.
Hurricane Hurry|W.H.G. Kingston
In time, he succeeded in reaching the water-logged ship, which rolled uneasily upon the heaving bosom of the deep.
Jack Harkaway in New York|Bracebridge Hemyng
Now birch trees do not make good firewood, for when they die they appear to get water-logged, and never burn well.
Three in Norway|James Arthur Lees
She had proved herself to be a fast sailer, and had logged sixteen knots, so that much was expected of her.
Within The Enemy's Lines|Oliver Optic

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