bitumen

[ bahy-too-muhn, -tyoo-, bih-, bich-oo- ]

noun

1. any of various natural substances, as asphalt, maltha, or gilsonite, consisting mainly of hydrocarbons.
2. (formerly) an asphalt of Asia Minor used as cement and mortar.

bitumen

/ bɪˈtjuːmɪnəs; ˈbɪtjʊmɪn /

noun

1. any of various viscous or solid impure mixtures of hydrocarbons that occur naturally in asphalt, tar, mineral waxes, etc: used as a road surfacing and roofing material
2. the constituents of coal that can be extracted by an organic solvent
3. any liquid suitable for coating aggregates
4. the bitumen
   the bitumen
   1. any road with a bitumen surface
   2. capital the road in the Northern Territory between Darwin and Alice Springs
5. a transparent brown pigment or glaze made from asphalt

bitumen

/ bĭ-to̅o̅′mən /

1. Any of various flammable mixtures of hydrocarbons and other substances found in asphalt and tar. Bitumens occur naturally or are produced from petroleum and coal.

Derived Forms

• bituminous, adjective

Other Words From

• bi·tu·mi·noid [bahy-, too, -m, uh, -noid, -, tyoo, -, bih-], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of bitumen¹

1425–75; late Middle English bithumen < Latin bitūmen

Word History and Origins

Origin of bitumen¹

C15: from Latin bitūmen , perhaps of Celtic origin

Example Sentences

It would transport bitumen and liquefied natural gas drawn from the tar sands to refineries on the Gulf Coast, mainly in Texas.

From The Daily Beast

A few years ago birds began dying after landing on these lakes and getting slathered in bitumen.

From The Daily Beast

Many runways are asphaltic concrete—aggregate in a bitumen binder—which softens and melts under heat.

From The Daily Beast

They pump their haul of diluted bitumen into tanker cars in the terminal's loading yard, thick with the smell of petroleum.

From The Daily Beast

Felt covered with bitumen is an excellent substitute for asphalt, and is not liable to crack or squeeze out.

From Project Gutenberg

He speaks of circular craft, covered with skins and caulked with bitumen, and made on wooden frames.

From Project Gutenberg

The tops of these arches were covered with stones, rushes and bitumen, and plates of lead, to prevent leakage.

From Project Gutenberg

They brought before me in a cloud of bitumen and sulphur Duke Rauking, who, the sacrilegious wretch!

From Project Gutenberg

Asphalt, or Asphaltum, the most common variety of bitumen; also called mineral pitch.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• blacktop