timber

[tim-ber]

noun

1. the wood of growing trees suitable for structural uses.

2. growing trees themselves.

3. wooded land.

4. wood, especially when suitable or adapted for various building purposes.

5. a single piece of wood forming part of a structure or the like.

   A timber fell from the roof.

6. Nautical.,  (in a ship's frame) one of the curved pieces of wood that spring upward and outward from the keel; rib.

7. personal character or quality.

   He's being talked up as presidential timber.

8. Sports.,  a wooden hurdle, as a gate or fence, over which a horse must jump in equestrian sports.

verb (used with object)

1. to furnish with timber.

2. to support with timber.

verb (used without object)

1. to fell timber, especially as an occupation.

interjection

1. a lumberjack's call to warn those in the vicinity that a cut tree is about to fall to the ground.

timber

/ ˈtɪmbə /

noun

1. 1. Usual US and Canadian word: lumber. wood, esp when regarded as a construction material

   2. ( as modifier )

      a timber cottage

2. 1. trees collectively

   2. woodland

3. a piece of wood used in a structure

4. nautical a frame in a wooden vessel

5. potential material, for a post, rank, etc

   he is managerial timber

verb

1. (tr) to provide with timbers

interjection

1. a lumberjack's shouted warning when a tree is about to fall

Other Word Forms

• timberless adjective
• timbery adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of timber¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English, Old English: originally, “house, building material, wood, trees”; cognate with German Zimmer “room,” Old Norse timbr “timber”; akin to Gothic timrjan “to build,” Greek démein “to build,” dómos “house,” Latin domus “house,” Slavic ( Polish ) dom, “house, home,” Sanskrit dáma- “house, building”; dome

Word History and Origins

Origin of timber¹

Old English; related to Old High German zimbar wood, Old Norse timbr timber, Latin domus house

Example Sentences

Mr Owen had moved to Selkirk more than 20 years earlier from Saffron Walden, where he ran his own timber and conservatory companies.

From BBC

Buildings in Afghanistan also tend to be made of timber, mud brick or weak concrete, which are not quake-resistant.

From BBC

As Sitka spruce is the main tree used for timber in the UK, Dr Blake and his colleagues watched developments on continental Europe with some serious concern.

From BBC

“This move will literally pave the way for the timber industry to clearcut backcountry forests that house endangered wildlife and are source waters for important fisheries and communities.”

From Los Angeles Times

In recent months, the administration has called for opening up public lands for energy resource extraction, including oil drilling, coal mining, timber production and geothermal exploration.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• forest 
• hardwood 
• log 

When To Use

What does timber mean?

Timber refers to wood used for building materials.Timber can be used to refer to wood at different stages of processing. Sometimes, it refers to the trees in a wooded area that will be cut for use. Other times, it means trees that have already been cut down but not yet processed into planks and other forms to build with. And other times it refers to the wood after it has been processed (a more common word for this is lumber).Timber is most commonly used as a mass noun, meaning it is a singular noun that refers to multiple things and does not get pluralized.Example: Those trucks are bringing freshly cut timber to the mill.