log

1
[ lawg, log ]
See synonyms for log on Thesaurus.com
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.

  1. 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.

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

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

  4. 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.

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

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

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

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

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

  1. to enter in a logbook or record; keep a record of: While at camp I logged each day’s events in a journal.

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

  3. 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.

  4. 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),logged, log·ging.
  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 Phrases
  1. log in,

    • Also log on, sign on. Digital Technology. 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.: See Usage note at login.

    • 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 Digital Technology. to terminate a session.

Origin of log

1
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English logge, variant of lugge “pole, limb of tree”; compare obsolete logget “pole”; see lugsail

Other words from log

  • log·gish, adjective
  • un·logged, adjective

Other definitions for log (2 of 5)

log2
[ lawg, log ]

noun
  1. Mathematics. logarithm.

Other definitions for log- (3 of 5)

log-

  1. variant of logo- before a vowel: logarithm.

Other definitions for -log (4 of 5)

-log

  1. variant of -logue: analog.

Other definitions for log. (5 of 5)

log.

abbreviation
  1. logic.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use log in a sentence

  • 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.

  • 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.

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 logs: a 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

  1. 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 ship: See also chip log

    • heave the log to determine a ship's speed with such a device

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Origin of log

1
C14: origin obscure

British Dictionary definitions for log (2 of 3)

log2

/ (lɒɡ) /


noun
  1. short for logarithm

British Dictionary definitions for -log (3 of 3)

-log

combining form
  1. 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 ]


  1. A logarithm.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Other Idioms and Phrases with log

log

In addition to the idiom beginning with log

  • log in

also see:

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

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.