Log

/lɔɡ/

nounverbA2

Definition

As a noun, "log" means a thick, heavy part of a tree trunk or branch that has been cut down. People often use logs for firewood or building. As a verb, "log" means to write down or keep a record of something, like events, times, or information, usually in an organized way.

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See It in Action

Noun: A large, cut piece of wood from a tree

  • We carried a heavy log to build the fire.
  • The cabin was made from big logs.
  • The beaver dragged a log into the river.

Verb: To record or write down information carefully

  • The pilot logged the flight hours in the notebook.
  • She logs her daily exercise in a journal.
  • The ship’s captain logged the weather conditions every hour.

Make It Stick

  • Think of "log" like "wood" (A1 word), but bigger and cut from a tree, not small pieces
  • Picture a big, heavy piece of tree lying on the ground or stacked for a fire
  • It's the feeling of seeing a campfire with logs burning, warm and strong
  • Sounds like "log" → imagine a frog sitting on a log near a pond
  • Remember stories or cartoons where characters sit on logs by a fire sharing stories—logs are solid and natural
  • NOT like "branch" (small and still on tree), a log is cut and separate
  • NOT like "note" (small writing), "log" as a verb is a careful, organized record, not just quick writing
  • As a verb, NOT like "write" (any writing), "log" is special because it is for keeping a record over time, like a diary or report

Try Other Words

  • Record: to write down information (Use when focusing on the action of writing or storing information)
  • Timber: large pieces of wood for building (Use when talking about wood prepared for construction)
  • Journal: a written record of personal or daily events (Use when "log" means keeping personal or daily records)

Unboxing

  • Word parts: (no prefix or suffix) — simple root word "log"
  • Etymology: From Old English "logg" meaning a tree trunk or large piece of wood
  • Historical development: Used first to mean a piece of wood; later, sailors used "log" to mean a record of a ship’s speed and travel, leading to the verb "log" meaning to record
  • Modern usage: Commonly used for wood pieces and for recording information in many fields like travel, work, or computers

Reflect & Connect

How does the meaning of "log" as wood connect to its meaning as a record of information?
Can you think of times when people might "log" something important in daily life or work?

Fill in the blanks

1.The firefighters used a ___ to keep the campfire burning all night.
2.Pilots must ___ their flight hours carefully for safety reasons.
3.Unlike a small branch, a ___ is a large piece of wood cut from a tree.
4.When you ___ your work hours, you write down the time you start and finish.
5.The ship’s captain checked the weather and ___ it in the logbook.
6.People often sit on a ___ around a fire to tell stories.
7.To keep track of the journey, the driver ___ every stop and time in the notebook.