asphalt

American  

[as-fawlt, -falt] / ˈæs fɔlt, -fælt /

noun

1. any of various dark-colored, solid, bituminous substances, native in various areas of the earth and composed mainly of hydrocarbon mixtures.

2. a similar substance that is the by-product of petroleum-cracking operations.

3. a mixture of such substances with gravel, crushed rock, or the like, used for paving.

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verb (used with object)

1. to cover or pave with asphalt.

adjective

1. of, relating to, or containing asphalt.

   asphalt tile.

asphalt British  

/ -fɔːlt, ˈæʃ-, ˈæsfælt /

noun

1. any of several black semisolid substances composed of bitumen and inert mineral matter. They occur naturally in parts of America and as a residue from petroleum distillation: used as a waterproofing material and in paints, dielectrics, and fungicides

2. a mixture of this substance with gravel, used in road-surfacing and roofing materials

3. (modifier) containing or surfaced with asphalt

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verb

1. (tr) to cover with asphalt

asphalt Scientific  

/ ăs′fôlt′ /

1. A thick, sticky, dark-brown mixture of petroleum tars used in paving, roofing, and waterproofing. Asphalt is produced as a byproduct in refining petroleum or is found in natural beds.

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Other Word Forms

• asphaltic adjective
• asphaltlike adjective
• unasphalted adjective

Etymology

Origin of asphalt

1275–1325; earlier asphaltos, -um < Latin < Greek ásphaltos, -on, akin to asphalízein to make firm, to secure; replacing Middle English aspaltoun ≪ Greek ásphalton

Example Sentences

These days, transforming the asphalt landscape into a sandy oasis takes about a week, with almost 900 tonnes of sand – that's about six blue whales or 70 double-decker buses – trucked in.

From BBC

The Stellar Ruby had just received a cargo of Iranian asphalt from the Asphalt Star, which came from Iran, according to commodities data company Kpler.

From The Wall Street Journal

Marine Corps in the late 1980s, hunting for sources of asphalt for his late father’s shipping business.

From The Wall Street Journal

I reach for a flyaway straw wrapper, then fall to my hands and knees, palms stinging against the hot asphalt.

From Literature

Chase glanced back at the previous breach just in time to see a large piece of asphalt slough off.

From Literature

Related Words

• blacktop