# log

/ˈɫɔɡ/ (US) · /lˈɒɡ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/log
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. wood

noun · CEFR B1

a thick piece of wood that has fallen or been cut from a tree.

For teachers: a segment of the trunk or a large limb of a felled tree, cleared of branches and suitable for fuel or timber.

- We put another log on the fire to keep the living room warm.
- The hikers sat on a moss-covered log to rest before continuing their ascent through the dense pine forest.

### 2. a record

noun · CEFR B2

an official record of events, especially on a ship, aircraft, or computer system.

For teachers: a systematic, chronological record of events, observations, or data, particularly regarding the operation of a vessel or computer network.

- The captain kept a daily log of the ship's position and the weather.
- The system administrator reviewed the server logs to identify the exact moment the security breach occurred.

### 3. math

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a short way of saying 'logarithm'.

For teachers: a shortened form of logarithm, representing the power to which a base must be raised to produce a given number.

- You need to calculate the log of this number to solve the equation.
- The decibel scale is based on a log scale, which allows for the representation of a vast range of sound intensities.

### 4. vulgar slang

noun · CEFR C2 · Vulgar · Slang

a piece of solid waste from the body.

For teachers: a piece of excrement, specifically one that is relatively long and solid.

- The dog left a large log right in the middle of the sidewalk.
- The plumber discovered a solid log of waste obstructing the main drainage pipe, necessitating a high-pressure flush.

### 5. to record

verb · CEFR B2

to write down or enter information into a record.

For teachers: to enter details of an event or period of time into a formal record or database.

- The pilot must log every hour she spends flying the plane.
- The software automatically logs every user interaction to help the developers improve the interface design.

### 6. to travel

verb · CEFR C1 · Technical

to travel a certain distance or at a certain speed.

For teachers: to achieve or record a specific distance or speed, typically in the context of navigation or transport.

- The ship logged over three hundred miles in a single day.
- During the sea trials, the vessel logged a top speed of twenty-five knots despite the heavy swell.

### 7. to cut wood

verb · CEFR B2

to cut down trees for wood.

For teachers: to fell trees and prepare them for transport as timber, often as a commercial activity.

- The company was given permission to log this section of the forest.
- Environmental groups protested the decision to log the ancient woodland, citing the potential loss of biodiversity.

## Examples

- He threw another log onto the fire to keep the room warm.
- The ship's captain keeps a detailed log of the vessel's position and weather conditions every four hours.
- While the fireplace was stacked with seasoned oak logs, the digital log of the server room indicated a suspicious spike in traffic from an unknown IP address.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.