log

1 of 6

noun (1)

ˈlȯg 

ˈläg

often attributive

1

: a usually bulky piece or length of a cut or fallen tree

especially : a length of a tree trunk ready for sawing and over six feet (1.8 meters) long

2

: an apparatus for measuring the rate of a ship's motion through the water that consists of a block fastened to a line and run out from a reel

3

a

: the record of the rate of a ship's speed or of her daily progress

also : the full nautical record of a ship's voyage

b

: the full record of a flight by an aircraft

4

: a record of performance, events, or day-to-day activities

log

2 of 6

verb

logged; logging

transitive verb

1

a

: to cut (trees) for lumber

b

: to clear (land) of trees in lumbering

—often used with off

2

: to make a note or record of : enter details of or about in a log

3

a

: to move (an indicated distance) or attain (an indicated speed) as noted in a log

b(1)

: to sail a ship or fly an airplane for (an indicated distance or period of time)

(2)

: to have (an indicated record) to one's credit : achieve

intransitive verb

: lumber entry 3 sense 1

log

3 of 6

noun (2)

often attributive

: logarithm

log

4 of 6

abbreviation

logic

log-

5 of 6

combining form

variants or logo-

: word : thought : speech : discourse

logogram

logorrhea

-log

6 of 6

noun combining form

see -logue

Synonyms

Verb

• jot (down)
• mark
• note
• put down
• record
• register
• report
• set down
• take down
• write down

Examples of log in a Sentence

Verb

Thousands of trees have been logged in this area.

The forest has been heavily logged.

The company has been logging in this area for many years.

Part of his job is to log all deliveries.

Truck drivers log thousands of miles every week.

She has only been flying for a few months, but she has already logged more than 80 hours.

a pitcher who has logged more than a hundred victories

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Salamander Gander, 10 a.m. at Indiana Dunes State Park: Meet at the park’s nature center to check out salamanders, then head out on a short walk to roll some logs and look for the amphibians in the wild. —Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 11 Apr. 2024

The site serves as a home for their bios and log of latest endeavors, with links to their Archewell Foundation organization and Archewell Productions hub. —Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 11 Apr. 2024

There’s also a growing sense of awareness among them about their surroundings, especially when red X’s began showing up on trees and a large log of lumber in a lake spells disaster. —David Fear, Rolling Stone, 11 Apr. 2024

The other half got an online blood glucose and insulin log, as well as an Alexa that would remind them every day to complete that log. —Simar Bajaj, STAT, 5 Apr. 2024

They can be found under shady places like logs, rocks, large shrubs, and woodpiles. —Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Apr. 2024

By noon, Underwood was feeling dizzy, according to his symptom log. —Maya Miller, Sacramento Bee, 22 Mar. 2024

As of Sunday morning, Rice did not appear on Dallas County jail logs. —Jesse Newell, Kansas City Star, 31 Mar. 2024

Their short, muscled limbs and four-inch claws can break apart rotting logs for grubs and beetles, and dig for worms, boosting decomposition and cycling nutrients in the thin topsoil. —Alex Fox, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Mar. 2024

Verb

Paul George didn’t play after the first quarter, logging eight minutes and scoring 10 points. —Broderick Turner, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2024

Jaquez was the only Heat player who logged more than 30 minutes on Friday. —Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 13 Apr. 2024

New users will have to log in with a personal Google Account. —Quentyn Kennemer, The Verge, 12 Apr. 2024

Cable subscribers can also watch the 2024 Masters online on CBS.com and ESPN.com by logging in with their TV provider credentials, including traditional and streaming services such as DirecTV Stream, Hulu + Live TV, Sling, Verizon, Xfinity and others. —Danielle Directo-Meston, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Apr. 2024

Under current rules, licensed dealers must perform background checks and log the make, model and serial numbers of guns sold, but hobbyists and infrequent traders don't. —Nick Penzenstadler, USA TODAY, 11 Apr. 2024

The records indicated that someone had logged into his account the night of Jan. 6 from an area in Virginia that was about 11 miles from the Capitol. —Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 10 Apr. 2024

Hoffman, according to sources, doesn’t log enough screen time to make an impression. —Matt Donnelly, Variety, 10 Apr. 2024

He’s also logged plenty of minutes at center, including during the Hornets’ final home game of the season. —Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 10 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English logge

Noun (2)

by shortening

Combining form

Greek, from logos — more at legend

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1699, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun (2)

1631, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing log

• (as) easy as falling off a log
• gas log
• log cabin
• log in
• log line
• log off
• log on
• log out
• sleep like a baby/log
• Yule log

Kids Definition

log

1 of 3 noun

ˈlȯg 

ˈläg

1

: a large piece of a cut or fallen tree

especially : a long piece of a tree trunk trimmed and ready for sawing

2

: a device for measuring the speed of a ship

3

a

: the daily record of a ship's speed and progress

b

: the full record of a ship's voyage or of an aircraft's flight

4

: a record of performance, events, or day-to-day activities

a computer log

log

2 of 3 verb

logged; logging

1

: to cut trees for lumber or to clear land of trees in lumbering

2

: to put details of or about in a log

3

a

: to move a distance or reach a speed as noted in a log

b

: to sail a ship or fly an aircraft for an indicated distance or time

the pilot logged thousands of miles and hundreds of hours

log

3 of 3 noun

: logarithm

Legal Definition

log

noun

: register sense 1