bitumen

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

/ baɪˈtu mən, -ˈtyu-, bɪ-, ˈbɪtʃ ʊ- /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for bitumen on Thesaurus.com

noun

any of various natural substances, as asphalt, maltha, or gilsonite, consisting mainly of hydrocarbons.

(formerly) an asphalt of Asia Minor used as cement and mortar.

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of bitumen

1425–75; late Middle English bithumen<Latin bitūmen

OTHER WORDS FROM bitumen

bi·tu·mi·noid

[bahy-too-muh-noid, -tyoo-, bih-], /baɪˈtu məˌnɔɪd, -ˈtyu-, bɪ-/, adjective

Words nearby bitumen

bitterwort, bitting, bittock, BitTorrent, bitty, bitumen, bituminize, bituminous, bituminous coal, Bitzer, biunique

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use bitumen in a sentence

The bricks in Mesopotamian ziggurats were set with bitumen from oil seeps, and people in China were drilling oil wells in the fourth century.
Why aren’t we listening to what science is telling us?|Nancy Shute|March 6, 2022|Science News
It would transport bitumen and liquefied natural gas drawn from the tar sands to refineries on the Gulf Coast, mainly in Texas.
The Pipeline From Hell: There’s No Good Reason to Build Keystone XL|Jack Holmes|November 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A few years ago birds began dying after landing on these lakes and getting slathered in bitumen.
Our Trip to The Climate War's Ground Zero|Darren Aronofsky|September 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Many runways are asphaltic concrete—aggregate in a bitumen binder—which softens and melts under heat.
Why Can’t America’s Newest Stealth Jet Land Like It’s Supposed To?|Bill Sweetman|May 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST

They pump their haul of diluted bitumen into tanker cars in the terminal's loading yard, thick with the smell of petroleum.
Pipelines, Not Rail, Ctd.|Justin Green|April 10, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Felt covered with bitumen is an excellent substitute for asphalt, and is not liable to crack or squeeze out.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Part 3|Various
He speaks of circular craft, covered with skins and caulked with bitumen, and made on wooden frames.
The Cradle of Mankind|W.A. Wigram
The tops of these arches were covered with stones, rushes and bitumen, and plates of lead, to prevent leakage.
The Book of Curiosities|I. Platts
They brought before me in a cloud of bitumen and sulphur Duke Rauking, who, the sacrilegious wretch!
The Poniard's Hilt|Eugne Sue
Asphalt, or Asphaltum, the most common variety of bitumen; also called mineral pitch.
The New Gresham Encyclopedia. Vol. 1 Part 2|Various

British Dictionary definitions for bitumen

bitumen

/ (ˈbɪtjʊmɪn) /

noun

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

the constituents of coal that can be extracted by an organic solvent

any liquid suitable for coating aggregates

the bitumen

Australian and NZ informal any road with a bitumen surface
(capital) Australian informal the road in the Northern Territory between Darwin and Alice Springs

a transparent brown pigment or glaze made from asphalt

Derived forms of bitumen

bituminous (bɪˈtjuːmɪnəs), adjective

Word Origin for bitumen

C15: from Latin bitūmen, perhaps of Celtic origin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for bitumen

bitumen

[ bĭ-tōō′mən ]

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.

bitumen

Origin of bitumen

OTHER WORDS FROM bitumen

Words nearby bitumen

Words related to bitumen

How to use bitumen in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for bitumen

Derived forms of bitumen

Word Origin for bitumen

Scientific definitions for bitumen