lumber

¹

[luhm-ber]

noun

1. timber sawed or split into planks, boards, etc.

2. miscellaneous useless articles that are stored away.

verb (used without object)

1. to cut timber and prepare it for market.

2. to become useless or to be stored away as useless.

verb (used with object)

1. to convert (a specified amount, area, etc.) into lumber.

   We lumbered more than a million acres last year.

2. to heap together in disorder.

3. to fill up or obstruct with miscellaneous useless articles; encumber.

lumber

²

[luhm-ber]

verb (used without object)

1. to move clumsily or heavily, especially from great or ponderous bulk.

   overloaded wagons lumbering down the dirt road.

   Synonyms: plod, barge, trudge

2. to make a rumbling noise.

lumber

¹

/ ˈlʌmbə /

noun

1. 1. logs; sawn timber

   2. cut timber, esp when sawn and dressed ready for use in joinery, carpentry, etc

   3. ( as modifier )

      the lumber trade

2. 1. useless household articles that are stored away

   2. ( as modifier )

      lumber room

verb

1. (tr) to pile together in a disorderly manner

2. (tr) to fill up or encumber with useless household articles

3. to convert (the trees) of (a forest) into marketable timber

4. informal,  (tr) to burden with something unpleasant, tedious, etc

5. (tr) to arrest; imprison

lumber

²

/ ˈlʌmbə /

verb

1. to move awkwardly

2. an obsolete word for rumble

Other Word Forms

• lumberer noun
• lumberless adjective
• lumberly adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of lumber¹

First recorded in 1545–55; of uncertain origin; perhaps because the cut and trimmed timber was dried and seasoned in a lumber room ( def. )

Origin of lumber²

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English lomeren; compare dialectal Swedish lomra “to resound, roar,” loma “to walk heavily”

Word History and Origins

Origin of lumber¹

C17: perhaps from a noun use of _lumber ²

Origin of lumber²

C14 lomeren; perhaps related to lome _lame ¹ , Swedish dialect loma to move ponderously

Example Sentences

So college sports lumber along, despite the outrageous amounts of money and many scandals.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

In October, previously announced duties on imported lumber and wood products kicked in, and MasterBrand said the impact could be as much as 8% of annual net sales before mitigation.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Prices for lumber and other sawmill products were up month-on-month, led by softwood lumber.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

I prepare to jump into a roast contest when a roar suddenly sounds from the forest in front of us—and I think I see a huge form lumbering toward us.

Read more on Literature

Penelope had to dodge piles of lumber and burly workmen holding jagged-edged saws, but it did not slow her approach.

Read more on Literature

Related Words

• plod 
• shuffle 
• slog 
• trudge 
• trundle 
• waddle