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lumber

verb

/ˈlʌm bər/

IPA:

Dictionary definition of lumber

To move heavily or clumsily.
"I had to lumber through the snowdrifts with my boots sinking into the soft powder."

Detailed meaning of lumber

Someone might lumber through a crowded room, indicating their slow and cumbersome movement.

Lumber can also mean to cut down or harvest trees for timber or wood. In this sense, lumbering involves the process of felling, transporting, and preparing trees for use in construction, furniture, or other wood-based industries.

Additionally, 'lumber' can signify the act of moving or transporting something in a slow, heavy, or laborious manner. For instance, a truck may lumber down a bumpy road, conveying a sense of a slow and cumbersome movement.

In some contexts, 'lumber' is used figuratively to describe someone's awkward or ungainly actions or behavior. For instance, a person may be described as lumbering when they exhibit a lack of grace or finesse in their movements or actions.

Overall, 'lumber' encompasses the ideas of heavy or clumsy movement, the harvesting or processing of timber, slow transportation, and awkwardness. The specific meaning of the verb can be determined by the surrounding context in which it is used.

Example sentences containing lumber

1. The exhausted hiker began to lumber down the steep mountain trail.
2. The old truck continued to lumber along the bumpy dirt road.
3. With a heavy backpack, he started to lumber through the dense forest.
4. The elephant's massive legs caused it to lumber gracefully through the savanna.
5. She watched the tired workers lumber toward the construction site.
6. The overloaded shelves made him lumber across the room.

History and etymology of lumber

The verb 'lumber' has its etymological roots in the Middle English word 'lomeren' or 'lumberen,' which meant 'to move heavily or clumsily.' It is believed to have been influenced by the Middle French term 'lombrer,' which meant 'to move heavily' or 'to drag.' The exact origin of 'lumber' prior to Middle English is somewhat unclear, but it is associated with the idea of slow, heavy, and awkward movement. When something or someone is said to 'lumber,' it implies that they are moving with a lack of grace or agility, often due to their size, weight, or clumsiness. The etymology of 'lumber' reflects this notion of unwieldy and ponderous movement that it has come to signify.

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Further usage examples of lumber

1. The bear appeared to lumber across the meadow in search of food.
2. The rusty robot began to lumber around the factory floor.
3. Despite his size, the giant managed to lumber through the narrow alley.
4. The wooden crate was too heavy, making it lumber along the warehouse floor.
5. After a long day, he would lumber into his favorite armchair and relax.
6. I lumber through the dense underbrush, my steps heavy and deliberate.
7. You lumber across the room, knocking into furniture along the way.
8. He, she, or it lumbers down the hallway, their movement slow and cumbersome.
9. We lumber through the muddy terrain, struggling to maintain our balance.
10. You (plural) lumber up the stairs, each step causing the floorboards to creak.
11. They lumber through the field, their bodies swaying with each heavy step.
12. You lumber along the trail, your backpack weighing you down.
13. He, she, or it lumbers through the crowd, accidentally bumping into people.
14. We lumber across the construction site, careful not to trip over debris.
15. You (plural) lumber with determination, the weight of the task ahead propelling you forward.
16. They lumber through the forest, the trees parting reluctantly to make way.
17. I lumber up the hill, my legs feeling the strain of the steep ascent.
18. You lumber through the warehouse, stacks of crates obstructing your path.
19. He, she, or it lumbers along the sidewalk, pedestrians sidestepping to avoid collision.
20. We lumber through the narrow corridor, squeezing past obstacles in our way.
21. You (plural) lumber with effort, the burden of responsibility weighing on your shoulders.
22. They lumber across the bridge, the wooden planks groaning under their weight.
23. I lumber with a sense of determination, each step bringing me closer to my goal.
24. You lumber through the garden, plants and shrubs bending under your inadvertent touch.