Cool MateLog vs Timber
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Log
Top 1,000 (very common)C1noun
Timber
Top 5,000 (fairly common)C1noun
Most common: Log
| Log | Timber | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/lɒɡ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/lɔːɡ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈtɪmbə(r)/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈtɪmbər/"]/ |
| Meaning | A piece of wood that has been cut from a tree, or a record of events. | Wood used for building or making things. |
| Example | The ship's captain kept a detailed log of the entire voyage. | the timber industry |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) |
| CEFR level | C1 | C1 |
| Part of speech | noun | noun |
| Collocations | cut, sawn, fallen, chop, saw, split, blaze, burn, crackle, cabin, house, fire, detailed, daily, captain’s, keep, maintain, update, book, sheet, entry | cut, fell, harvest, company, industry, production, heavy, solid, rough, length, piece, dress, season, treat, decay, rot, product, merchant, yard, heavy, exposed, roof |
| Antonyms | discharge, export, erase | metal, concrete, stone |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'logged' as a past tense verb., Using 'log' only in relation to trees and not recognizing the meaning of records., Mispronouncing 'log' as 'lag'. | Confused with 'lumber' - both refer to wood, but usage can vary by region., Using 'timber' when referring to small pieces of wood instead of larger logs., Mistakenly using 'timber' as a verb. |
| Usage notes | Use 'log' when referring to tree trunks or records of events. Avoid in casual conversations about smaller sticks or everyday actions unless specifically referencing a log book. | Used primarily in contexts related to construction or forestry. Not commonly used in casual conversation unless discussing wood as a material. |
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Frequently asked questions: Log vs Timber
What's the difference between Log and Timber?
Log: A piece of wood that has been cut from a tree, or a record of events. Timber: Wood used for building or making things.
Which is more common: Log and Timber?
Log is the most common in everyday English.
Are Log and Timber the same CEFR level?
Log: C1, Timber: C1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Log and Timber?
Log: noun, Timber: noun.
Can you show an example of each?
Log: The ship's captain kept a detailed log of the entire voyage. Timber: the timber industry
Can I use Log and Timber interchangeably?
Not always. Log and Timber are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.