Definition & Meaning of "timber"in English

Timber

NOUN

wood cut and prepared from trees for construction or other practical uses

Dialect

British

lumber

American

Examples

The house was built using high-quality timber.

land covered with trees and shrubs, often suitable for logging

Examples

The surveyor mapped the timber boundaries.

trees grown to be used in carpentry or construction

Examples

The timber from the forest was transported to the mill to be processed into lumber.

a large, solid piece of wood used as a structural element in construction

Examples

The roof rested on heavy timber.

a vertical wooden post or stake, often used for fencing, support, or markers

Examples

A timber was driven into the ground for the fence.

the characteristic quality or tone of a sound, voice, or musical instrument that distinguishes it from others

Examples

The violin has a rich, warm timber.

timber

INTERJECTION

used to warn others that a tree is falling or about to fall

What is the origin and context of use of 'timber'?

The interjection "timber" has its origins in the logging and forestry industry, where it is commonly used as a safety warning to alert others that a tree is being cut down and is about to fall. The practice of shouting "timber" serves to warn those nearby to move out of the way to avoid being struck by the falling tree.

Examples

As the lumberjack saws through the trunk, he shouts, " Timber! " to alert others of the falling tree.

Lexical Tree