log

¹

[ lawg, log ]

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.

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.

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)

, 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 phrase

1. 1. 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.

   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. Digital Technology. to terminate a session.

log

²

[ lawg, log ]

noun

1. Mathematics. logarithm.

log-

³

1. variant of logo- before a vowel:

   logarithm.

-log

⁴

1. variant of -logue:

   analog.

log.

⁵

abbreviation for

1. logic.

-log

¹

combining_form

1. a US variant of -logue

log

²

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

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

³

/ lɒɡ /

noun

1. short for logarithm

log

/ lôg /

1. A logarithm.

Other Words From

• log·gish adjective
• un·logged adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of log¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of log¹

C14: origin obscure

Idioms and Phrases

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 .

Example Sentences

However, even a brief outage was enough to cause problems for customers, who reported being unable to log in to their accounts or said they were having problems making payments.

From BBC

Several users on X, formerly Twitter, posted screenshots of an alert telling them "please check your entries and try again" when attempting to log in.

From BBC

He was also forced to log even more mileage than usual.

From Los Angeles Times

Left, sliced log slabs make decorative plates and platters.

From Los Angeles Times

Instead, when I’m away from my computer, I log in on my phone’s browser, often having to sign in each time before seeing what awaits me.

From Slate

Related Words

• chunk
• piece
• timber
• wood

Words That Use -log

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.

Examples of -log

An example of a word you may have encountered that features -log is monolog, “a form of dramatic entertainment, comedic solo, or the like by a single speaker.” Monolog comes from French monologue, which uses the equivalent of the form -log in that language.

The mono- part of the word means “alone,” “single,” or “one,” from Greek mónos. As we already know, -log means “discourse.” Monolog literally translates to “single discourse.”

What are some words that use the equivalent of the combining form -log in Greek?

• dialog
• homolog
• prolog
• theolog

What are some other forms that -log may be commonly confused with?

• -glot
• -gon
• -ling
• -ol
• -ole

Not every word that ends with the exact letters -log, such as catalog, is necessarily using the combining form -log to denote “discourse.” Learn why catalog means “a complete list of items” at our entry for the word.

Break it down!

The combining form homo- means “same.” With this in mind, what does homolog literally mean?