log

1 of 6

noun (1)

ˈlȯg How to pronounce log (audio)
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

log

3 of 6

noun (2)

often attributive

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

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
The crash was reported about 1:45 p.m. on the freeway between Friars Road and Aero Drive, according to CHP online traffic logs, not long after someone reported seeing a man walking in the lane to the right of the fast lane. Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Mar. 2024 While the delay is unfortunate, the Jetstream #1 well is still anticipated to reach TD, be tested with a comprehensive suite of open-hole wireline logs and be completed by the first week of March. Charlotte Observer, 23 Feb. 2024 Handwritten by Epstein’s pilot, the logs show when and where his private jet flew between 1995 and 2006. Elizabeth B. Kim, The Enquirer, 23 Feb. 2024 Throughout the event, the fire watch officer maintains a log that details their activities and any noteworthy occurrences. Kyle Russell, The Arizona Republic, 23 Feb. 2024 Flagstone floors flow into snug maroon-walled lounges with marble ceramics, rattan stools, and open log fires guarded by leather benches and mustard sofa chairs. Lewis Nunn, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024 The site features their bios and a log of their latest endeavors, with links to their Archewell Foundation organization and Archewell Productions hub. Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 21 Feb. 2024 Red velvet cake rolled into a pretty log with a fluffy sour cream filling is a showstopper for any occasion. Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Feb. 2024 Tejas slow-cooks their meat over a stick burner—a pit utilizing wood logs as the sole source of fuel. Kayla Stewart, Bon Appétit, 23 Feb. 2024
Verb
An optimist wants to believe that once the country repairs its bridges and gets everyone logged onto super-fast WiFi, makes billionaires pay up in taxes and gets prescription drug prices under control, that Americans will be better. Robin Givhan, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2024 At their two-month-long preliminary hearing, prosecutors said cellphone pings from nearby towers placed both men at the scene of the crime, and that there was evidence their bluetooth data had been logged into the Toyota as well. Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, 8 Mar. 2024 Soil biodiversity, which plays a role in carbon sequestration, is also damaged by logging. Alfredo Sosa, The Christian Science Monitor, 6 Mar. 2024 The majority of reports cited user issues with logging in, according to DownDetector. The Enquirer, 5 Mar. 2024 Meta says its Facebook and Instagram services have been restored, after more than half a million users reported widespread issues earlier in the day, with many saying they were booted out of the social media platforms and unable to log back in. Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 5 Mar. 2024 Elizabeth, while waiting for her husband, obsesses over finding all of the paintings and logging their wherabouts in a database, convinced this will bring her happiness, order, and closure. Elisabeth Garber-Paul, Rolling Stone, 5 Mar. 2024 Nix logged 61 contests combined between Oregon and Auburn. Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Feb. 2024 Since then, he’s logged four more entries, and all of them have started in the top 10: 2 Alive (No. 6 in 2022), Lyfe (No. 10 in 2022), AfterLyfe (No. 4 in 2023) and now 2093 (No. 2). Keith Caulfield, Billboard, 25 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'log.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of log was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near log

Cite this Entry

“Log.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/log. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

log

1 of 3 noun
ˈlȯg How to pronounce log (audio)
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

Legal Definition

log

noun

More from Merriam-Webster on log

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