bitumen
Americannoun
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any of various natural substances, as asphalt, maltha, or gilsonite, consisting mainly of hydrocarbons.
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(formerly) an asphalt of Asia Minor used as cement and mortar.
noun
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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
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the constituents of coal that can be extracted by an organic solvent
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any liquid suitable for coating aggregates
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informal any road with a bitumen surface
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informal (capital) the road in the Northern Territory between Darwin and Alice Springs
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a transparent brown pigment or glaze made from asphalt
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of bitumen
1425–75; late Middle English bithumen < Latin bitūmen
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He and Smith are working together on advancing a new pipeline from Alberta to the Pacific coast, hoping to export Alberta bitumen to Asia.
From Barron's ● Oct. 20, 2026
The pitted road surface was scalped by a 30-tonne machine planer and the debris swept out before a bitumen emulsion binder was sprayed ahead of the laying of fresh asphalt.
From BBC ● Jun. 10, 2026
Plant resins released aromatic compounds and sesquiterpenoids, while bitumen produced naphthenic compounds.
From Science Daily ● Mar. 16, 2026
Volatile dilutants added to the heavy bitumen from Alberta enable it to flow through the pipeline.
From Seattle Times ● Jun. 4, 2024
We also find naphtha and bitumen confounded, the former being described as the solid, the latter as the liquid substance.
From Secret Societies of the Middle Ages by Thomas Keightley
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