Timber

/ˈtɪmbə/ · noun

Meaning

(uncountable) Trees in a forest regarded as a source of wood..

Definitions by Sense

1. (uncountable) Trees in a forest regarded as a source of wood.
2. (outside Canada, US, uncountable) Wood that has been pre-cut and is ready for use in construction.
3. (countable) A heavy wooden beam, generally a whole log that has been squared off and used to provide heavy support for something such as a roof.
4. Material for any structure.
5. (firearms, informal) The wooden stock of a rifle or shotgun.
6. (archaic) A certain quantity of fur skins (as of martens, ermines, sables, etc.) packed between boards; in some cases forty skins, in others one hundred and twenty. Also timmer, timbre.
7. (cricket, slang) The stumps.
8. Used by loggers to warn others that a tree being felled is falling.

Example Sentences

collect timber

cut down timber

the timbers of a ship

From the core of the trunk come explosive cracks sounding like rifle-fire. The top of the tree begins swaying drunkenly, as if struggling to keep on its feet. The warning cry "Timber!"

The cameras caught the big man crashing to the studio floor. It seemed to take an age for Sticks to hit the deck and as he went down we all chorused "Timberrrr!"

timbering a roof

For many heads that undertake [learning], were never squared nor timbred for it.

Synonyms for timber

Antonyms for timber

Related Words

Word Forms

• timbers
• timber!
• timbering
• timbered

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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