Log touching piece of rope? (6)
I believe the answer is:
record
'log' is the definition.
(I know that log is a more specific form of the action record)
'touching piece of rope?' is the wordplay.
'touching' becomes 're' (re can mean touching or regarding).
'piece of rope?' becomes 'cord' (a cord is a piece of robe or string).
're'+'cord'='RECORD'
(Other definitions for record that I've seen before include "It provides evidence" , "put down to the occasion" , "Make a single" , "Document preserving information" , "Facts known about a person - may be criminal" .)