Stump vs. Log — What's the Difference?
By Fiza Rafique & Maham Liaqat — Updated on May 17, 2024
"Stump" refers to the remaining part of a tree after it has been cut down, while "log" is a large, usually cut, section of a tree trunk or large branch.
Difference Between Stump and Log
Table of Contents
ADVERTISEMENT
Key Differences
"Stump" is the term used for the part of a tree that remains in the ground after the tree has been cut down. For instance, after cutting down a tree in the yard, what remains is the stump, which is often below or at ground level. "Log," on the other hand, refers to a sizable portion of the tree trunk or a large branch that has been cut down and removed from the tree. Logs are typically used for lumber or firewood, such as "We stacked the logs for the winter fire."
Stumps are often associated with what is left behind after logging or tree removal, presenting a challenge to remove if left in the ground. Logs are more commonly associated with the timber industry, where they are processed into lumber or used for various construction purposes.
In a garden or yard, a stump might be an eyesore or a tripping hazard, needing removal or grinding down. Conversely, logs can be seen as useful resources, whether for creating structures, furniture, or as firewood.
When considering forestry and environmental contexts, "stump" indicates the impact of tree removal, whereas "log" signifies the product of such activity.
In everyday language, "stump" can also mean to perplex or baffle someone, while "log" can refer to recording data, such as "logging hours" in a work log.
ADVERTISEMENT
Comparison Chart
Definition
The remaining part of a tree after cutting
A large section of tree trunk or branch
Usage Example
"The stump was hard to remove."
"We used the log for firewood."
Context
Remains in the ground
Removed and used for lumber or firewood
Garden/Yard Impact
Often an eyesore or tripping hazard
Useful for structures or firewood
Forestry Context
Indicates tree removal impact
Signifies product of logging
Additional Meaning
To perplex or baffle
To record data
Compare with Definitions
Stump
The part of a plant that remains after harvesting.
The stumps of the corn plants were left in the field.
Log
A large section of a tree trunk or branch.
We chopped the log into smaller pieces for the fireplace.
Stump
The part of a tree trunk left protruding from the ground after the tree has fallen or has been felled.
Log
A record of events or data.
The captain kept a detailed log of the ship's journey.
Stump
A part, as of a branch, limb, or tooth, remaining after the main part has been cut away, broken off, or worn down.
Log
To cut down trees and prepare them for lumber.
They logged the forest for timber.
Stump
Stumps(Informal) The legs.
Log
A part of the trunk or a large branch of a tree that has fallen or been cut off
A roaring log fire
She tripped over a fallen log
Stump
An artificial leg.
Log
An official record of events during the voyage of a ship or aircraft
A ship's log
Stump
(Derogatory) A short, thickset person.
Log
An apparatus for determining the speed of a ship, originally one consisting of a float attached to a knotted line that is wound on a reel, the distance run out in a certain time being used as an estimate of the vessel's speed.
Stump
A heavy footfall.
Log
The Ranfurly Shield, an interprovincial rugby union trophy competed for annually in New Zealand
Errors late in the game cost them a shot at the log of wood
Stump
A place or an occasion used for political or campaign oratory
Candidates out on the stump.
Log
Short for logarithm
Log x
Log values
Stump
A short, pointed roll of leather or paper or wad of rubber for rubbing on a charcoal or pencil drawing to shade or soften it.
Log
Enter (an incident or fact) in the log of a ship or aircraft or in another systematic record
The incident has to be logged
Stump
(Sports) Any of the three upright sticks in a cricket wicket.
Log
Cut down (an area of forest) in order to exploit the timber commercially
There are plans to log 250,000 hectares of virgin rainforest
Stump
To reduce to a stump.
Log
A usually large section of a trunk or limb of a fallen or felled tree.
Stump
To clear stumps from
Stump a field.
Log
A long thick section of trimmed, unhewn timber.
Stump
To stub (a toe or foot).
Log
A device trailed from a ship to determine its speed through the water.
Stump
To walk over heavily or clumsily.
Log
A record of a ship's speed, its progress, and any shipboard events of navigational importance.
Stump
To traverse (a district or region) making political speeches.
Log
The book in which this record is kept.
Stump
To shade (a drawing) with a stump.
Log
A record of a vehicle's performance, as the flight record of an aircraft.
Stump
To challenge (someone); dare.
Log
A record, as of the performance of a machine or the progress of an undertaking
A computer log.
A trip log.
Stump
To cause to be at a loss; baffle
Stumped the teacher with a question.
Log
A logarithm.
Stump
To walk heavily or clumsily.
Log
To cut down, trim, and haul the timber of (a piece of land).
Stump
To go about making political speeches.
Log
To cut (timber) into unhewn sections.
Stump
The remains of something that has been cut off; especially the remains of a tree, the remains of a limb.
Log
To enter in a record, as of a ship or an aircraft.
Stump
(politics) The place or occasion at which a campaign takes place; the husting.
Log
To travel (a specified distance, time, or speed)
Logged 30,000 air miles in April.
Stump
(figurative) A place or occasion at which a person harangues or otherwise addresses a group in a manner suggesting political oration.
Log
To spend or accumulate (time)
Had logged 25 years with the company.
Stump
(cricket) One of three small wooden posts which together with the bails make the wicket and that the fielding team attempt to hit with the ball.
Log
To cut down, trim, and haul timber.
Stump
(drawing) An artists’ drawing tool made of rolled paper used to smudge or blend marks made with charcoal, Conté crayon, pencil or other drawing media.
Log
The trunk of a dead tree, cleared of branches.
They walked across the stream on a fallen log.
Stump
A wooden or concrete pole used to support a house.
Log
Any bulky piece as cut from the above, used as timber, fuel etc.
Stump
A leg.
To stir one's stumps
Log
Anything shaped like a log; a cylinder.
Stump
A pin in a tumbler lock which forms an obstruction to throwing the bolt except when the gates of the tumblers are properly arranged, as by the key.
Log
(nautical) A floating device, usually of wood, used in navigation to estimate the speed of a vessel through water.
Stump
A pin or projection in a lock to form a guide for a movable piece.
Log
(figuratively) A blockhead; a very stupid person.
Stump
To stop, confuse, or puzzle.
Log
A heavy longboard.
Stump
To baffle; to make unable to find an answer to a question or problem.
This last question has me stumped.
Log
(figuratively) A rolled cake with filling.
Stump
(intransitive) To campaign.
He’s been stumping for that reform for months.
Log
(mining) A weight or block near the free end of a hoisting rope to prevent it from being drawn through the sheave.
Stump
To travel over (a state, a district, etc.) giving speeches for electioneering purposes.
Log
(vulgar) A piece of feces.
Stump
To get a batsman out stumped.
Log
(vulgar) A penis.
Stump
To bowl down the stumps of (a wicket).
Log
A logbook, or journal of a vessel's (or aircraft's) progress.
Stump
(intransitive) To walk heavily or clumsily, plod, trudge.
Log
A chronological record of actions, performances, computer/network usage, etc.
Stump
(transitive) To reduce to a stump; to truncate or cut off a part of.
Log
(computer science) Specifically, an append-only sequence of records written to file.
Stump
(transitive) To strike unexpectedly; to stub, as the toe against something fixed.
Log
A Hebrew unit of liquid volume (about 3{{nbsp}}liter).
Stump
The part of a tree or plant remaining in the earth after the stem or trunk is cut off; the stub.
Log
Synonym of logarithm. Category:en:Functions
To multiply two numbers, add their logs.
Stump
The part of a limb or other body remaining after a part is amputated or destroyed; a fixed or rooted remnant; a stub; as, the stump of a leg, a finger, a tooth, or a broom.
Log
(sciences) A difference of one in the logarithm, usually in base 10; an order of magnitude.
Stump
The legs; as, to stir one's stumps.
Log
(transitive) To cut trees into logs.
Stump
One of the three pointed rods stuck in the ground to form a wicket and support the bails.
Log
(transitive) To cut down (trees).
Stump
A short, thick roll of leather or paper, cut to a point, or any similar implement, used to rub down the lines of a crayon or pencil drawing, in shading it, or for shading drawings by producing tints and gradations from crayon, etc., in powder.
Log
(intransitive) To cut down trees in an area, harvesting and transporting the logs as wood.
Stump
A pin in a tumbler lock which forms an obstruction to throwing the bolt, except when the gates of the tumblers are properly arranged, as by the key; a fence; also, a pin or projection in a lock to form a guide for a movable piece.
Log
(transitive) To make, to add an entry (or more) in a log or logbook.
To log the miles travelled by a ship
Stump
To cut off a part of; to reduce to a stump; to lop.
Around the stumped top soft moss did grow.
Log
(transitive) To travel (a distance) as shown in a logbook.
Stump
To strike, as the toes, against a stone or something fixed; to stub.
Log
(transitive) To travel at a specified speed, as ascertained by a chip log.
Stump
To challenge; also, to nonplus.
Log
A Hebrew measure of liquids, containing 2.37 gills.
Stump
To put (a batsman) out of play by knocking off the bail, or knocking down the stumps of the wicket he is defending while he is off his allotted ground; - sometimes with out.
A herd of boys with clamor bowled,And stumped the wicket.
Log
A bulky piece of wood which has not been shaped by hewing or sawing.
Stump
To walk clumsily, as if on stumps.
Log
An apparatus for measuring the rate of a ship's motion through the water.
Stump
The base part of a tree that remains standing after the tree has been felled
Log
The record of the rate of speed of a ship or airplane, and of the course of its progress for the duration of a voyage; also, the full nautical record of a ship's cruise or voyage; a log slate; a log book.
Stump
The part of a limb or tooth that remains after the rest is removed
Log
A record and tabulated statement of the person(s) operating, operations performed, resources consumed, and the work done by any machine, device, or system.
Stump
(cricket) any of three upright wooden posts that form the wicket
Log
A weight or block near the free end of a hoisting rope to prevent it from being drawn through the sheave.
Stump
A platform raised above the surrounding level to give prominence to the person on it
Log
A record of activities performed within a program, or changes in a database or file on a computer, and typically kept as a file in the computer.
Stump
Cause to be perplexed or confounded;
This problem stumped her
Log
To enter in a ship's log book; as, to log the miles run.
Stump
Walk heavily;
The men stomped through the snow in their heavy boots
Log
To record any event in a logbook, especially an event relating to the operation of a machine or device.
Stump
Travel through a district and make political speeches;
The candidate stumped the Northeast
Log
To engage in the business of cutting or transporting logs for timber; to get out logs.
Stump
Remove tree stumps from;
Stump a field
Log
To move to and fro; to rock.
Stump
The base of a tree left after the trunk is cut down.
The old stump in the garden was covered with moss.
Log
A segment of the trunk of a tree when stripped of branches
Stump
Any remaining part or base of something.
The stump of a broken pencil was useless for writing.
Log
Large log at the back of a hearth fire
Stump
To perplex or challenge someone.
The difficult question stumped the students.
Log
The exponent required to produce a given number
Stump
The part of a limb remaining after amputation.
He had to adapt to life with a stump after the accident.
Log
A written record of messages sent or received;
They kept a log of all transmission by the radio station
An email log
Log
A written record of events on a voyage (of a ship or plane)
Log
Measuring instrument that consists of a float that trails from a ship by a knotted line in order to measure the ship's speed through the water
Log
Enter into a log, as on ships and planes
Log
Cut lumber, as in woods and forests
Log
To enter information into a record.
She logged her hours for the project.
Log
A substantial block of wood used in construction or for carving.
The cabin was built from sturdy logs.
Common Curiosities
Can a stump be removed easily?
No, stumps are often difficult to remove and may require grinding or special equipment.
Is "stump" used metaphorically?
Yes, "stump" can mean to perplex or challenge someone, e.g., "The riddle stumped him."
What is a stump?
A stump is the remaining part of a tree left in the ground after the trunk has been cut down.
What are logs used for?
Logs are used for various purposes, including lumber, construction, furniture making, and firewood.
How long does it take for a stump to decompose?
Decomposition can take several years, depending on the tree species and environmental conditions.
What is a log?
A log is a large section of a tree trunk or branch that has been cut down, typically used for lumber or firewood.
Can "log" refer to something other than wood?
Yes, "log" can also refer to a record of events or data, e.g., "a work log."
What happens to stumps in forests?
Stumps may remain as part of the natural environment, slowly decomposing, or may be removed if the area is developed.
Can "log" be used as a verb?
Yes, e.g., "to log data" means to record information.
Can a stump grow back?
Some stumps can sprout new growth, though this depends on the tree species.
What is logging in terms of forestry?
Logging refers to the process of cutting down trees and preparing them for lumber or other uses.
Do stumps pose any hazards?
Yes, stumps can be tripping hazards and may attract pests.
How are logs processed?
Logs are often sawed into lumber or split for firewood.
Are there industries focused on log use?
Yes, the timber and woodworking industries are centered around the use of logs.
Are logs used in construction?
Yes, logs are commonly used in building log cabins and other structures.
Share Your Discovery
Previous Comparison
Depo vs. Depot
Next Comparison
Claim vs. ArgueAuthor Spotlight
Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
