noun
Common
timber
TIHM-buh
Timber (noun) means Wood that has been cut and prepared for building. Example: “The builder stacked the timber neatly beside the half-finished shed.”
noun
1
Wood that has been cut and prepared for building.
"The builder stacked the timber neatly beside the half-finished shed."
"We need dry timber to make a strong frame for the garden gate."
"They ordered timber for the new roof frame."
2
Trees considered as a source of wood.
"The company owns a large area of forest and sells the timber."
"Storms knocked down some of the best timber in the valley."
"The hillside was covered in valuable timber."
3
A large wooden beam used to support a structure.
"The old barn's roof was held up by massive oak timbers."
"Workers lifted a heavy timber into place across the top of the wall."
"A cracked timber ran the length of the ceiling."
intj
1
A warning shout used when a felled tree is about to fall.
""Timber!" shouted the boy, and everyone stepped back from the falling pine."
"She cupped her hands and yelled timber before the tree crashed down."
""Timber!" the logger yelled as the trunk began to topple."
How to use timber
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishWood used for building, or the trees it comes from.
Common pairings
timber frame
felled for timber
shout timber
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Word forms
- Plural
- timbers
- Third person singular
- timbers
- Past tense
- timbered
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The builder stacked the _____ neatly beside the half-finished shed.
Etymology
From Old English timber, related to a very old Indo-European root meaning "to build" — the same root that eventually gives us words like "domestic" and "dome" in other languages.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for timber
See all rhymes for timber →Frequently asked questions
What does “timber” mean?
The word “timber” means wood that has been cut and prepared for building. In plain terms, wood used for building, or the trees it comes from.
How do you pronounce “timber”?
“Timber” is pronounced TIHM-buh (/ˈtɪmbɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “timber” in a sentence?
Here is “timber” used in a sentence: “They ordered timber for the new roof frame.”
What part of speech is “timber”?
Depending on how it is used, “timber” can be a noun and an intj.
Where does the word “timber” come from?
The word “timber” comes from Old English. From Old English timber, related to a very old Indo-European root meaning "to build" — the same root that eventually gives us words like "domestic" and "dome" in other languages.
Is “timber” a common word?
“Timber” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “timber” have?
“Timber” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: wood that has been cut and prepared for building.
What is the difference between timber and lumber?
In British English, timber is the usual word for wood that has been cut and prepared for building. In North American English, lumber is more common for sawn boards and planks, while timber tends to mean standing trees or heavy structural beams. Both words describe wood processed for construction.
What is the difference between timber and timbre?
Timber is wood prepared for building, trees grown as a source of wood, or a large wooden beam. Timbre is an unrelated word meaning the characteristic quality of a sound or voice. Because the spellings are so close, timbre is often mistyped as timber, but the two are never interchangeable.
Why do people shout timber when a tree falls?
"Timber!" is a traditional warning shout used when a felled tree is about to fall, alerting anyone nearby to move clear of the falling trunk. The shout comes from logging, where the felled trees are the timber being harvested. It is still used by tree fellers today, and humorously whenever something large topples.
What is the difference between timber and wood?
Wood is the general material that trees are made of, whatever its state or use. Timber refers specifically to wood that has been cut and prepared for building, to trees considered as a source of wood, or to a large structural beam. All timber is wood, but not all wood is timber.
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