lumber

Wood cut into boards or other pieces for building or making things.

• We need lumber for the new shed.
• The truck delivered lumber to the building site.
• Lumber prices rose again this year.

Similar words: timber

Common phrases: lumber yard, lumber prices, pine lumber

To move slowly and awkwardly, as if your body is heavy.

• The bear lumbered through the forest.
• He lumbered up the stairs with his bags.
• A huge truck was lumbering along the narrow road.

How to use it: lumber along/across/into somewhere (The bear lumbered across the road.)

Similar words: trudge, plod

Common phrases: lumber along, lumber toward someone, lumber up stairs

To give someone an unwanted job, problem, or responsibility that is difficult to deal with.

• They lumbered me with the extra work.
• She was lumbered with debts after the business failed.
• Why am I always lumbered with organizing everything?

How to use it: lumber someone with something (They lumbered me with all the cleaning.); be lumbered with something (We were lumbered with a huge bill.)

Similar words: burden, saddle

Common phrases: lumber someone with something, lumber someone with paperwork

To fill a place with unwanted furniture or other things so that it becomes crowded.

• Old furniture lumbered the narrow hall.
• They lumbered up the attic with broken chairs.
• The spare room was lumbered with boxes.

How to use it: lumber something up with something (They lumbered the room up with old chairs.)

Similar words: clutter, encumber

Common phrases: lumber up something, lumber a room