Log"an (?), n. A rocking or balanced stone. Gwill.
Log`a*œd"ic (lg`*d"k), a. [Gr. logaoidiko`s; lo`gos discourse, prose +
'aoidh` song.] (Gr. Pros.) Composed of dactyls and trochees so arranged
as to produce a movement like that of ordinary speech.
Log"a*rithm (lg"*r'm), n. [Gr. lo`gos word, account, proportion +
'ariqmo`s number: cf. F. logarithme.] (Math.) One of a class of
auxiliary numbers, devised by John Napier, of Merchiston, Scotland
(1550-1617), to abridge arithmetical calculations, by the use of
addition and subtraction in place of multiplication and division. The
relation of logarithms to common numbers is that of numbers in an
arithmetical series to corresponding numbers in a geometrical series,
so that sums and differences of the former indicate respectively
products and quotients of the latter; thus,
Hence, the logarithm of any given number is the exponent of a power to
which another given invariable number, called the base, must be raised
in order to produce that given number. Thus, let 10 be the base, then 2
is the logarithm of 100, because 102 = 100, and 3 is the logarithm of
1,000, because 103 = 1,000.
Arithmetical complement of a logarithm, the difference between a
logarithm and the number ten. -- Binary logarithms. See under Binary.
-- Common logarithms, or Brigg's logarithms, logarithms of which the
base is 10; -- so called from Henry Briggs, who invented them. --
Gauss's logarithms, tables of logarithms constructed for facilitating
the operation of finding the logarithm of the sum of difference of two
quantities from the logarithms of the quantities, one entry of those
tables and two additions or subtractions answering the purpose of three
entries of the common tables and one addition or subtraction. They were
suggested by the celebrated German mathematician Karl Friedrich Gauss
(died in 1855), and are of great service in many astronomical
computations. -- Hyperbolic, or Napierian, logarithms, those logarithms
(devised by John Speidell, 1619) of which the base is 2.7182818; -- so
called from Napier, the inventor of logarithms. -- Logistic or
Proportionallogarithms., See under Logistic.
{ Log`a*rith*met"ic (?), Log"a*rith*met"ic*al (?), } a. See
Logarithmic.
Log`a*rith*met"ic*al*ly, adv. Logarithmically.
{ Log`a*rith"mic (?), Log`a*rith"mic*al (?), } a. [Cf. F.
logarithmique.] Of or pertaining to logarithms; consisting of
logarithms.
Logarithmic curve (Math.), a curve which, referred to a system of
rectangular coördinate axes, is such that the ordinate of any point
will be the logarithm of its abscissa. -- Logarithmic spiral, a spiral
curve such that radii drawn from its pole or eye at equal angles with
each other are in continual proportion. See Spiral.
Log`a*rith"mic*al*ly, adv. By the use of logarithms.
Log"-chip` (?), n. (Naut.) A thin, flat piece of board in the form of a
quadrant of a circle attached to the log line; -- called also log-ship.
See 2d Log, n., 2.
Log"cock` (?), n. The pileated woodpecker.
Loge (?), n. [F. See Lodge.] A lodge; a habitation. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Log"gan (?), n. See Logan.
Log"gat (?), n. [Also written logget.] 1. A small log or piece of wood.
[Obs.] B. Jonson.
2. pl. An old game in England, played by throwing pieces of wood at a
stake set in the ground. [Obs.] Shak.
Logge (?), n. & v. See Lodge. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Logged (?), a. Made slow and heavy in movement; water-logged.
Beaconsfield.
Log"ger (?), n. One engaged in logging. See Log, v. i. [U.S.] Lowell.
Log"ger*head` (?), n. [Log + head.] 1. A blockhead; a dunce; a
numskull. Shak. Milton.