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Synonyms

bitumen

American  
[bahy-too-muhn, -tyoo-, bih-, bich-oo-] / baɪˈtu mən, -ˈtyu-, bɪ-, ˈbɪtʃ ʊ- /

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 British  
/ ˈbɪtjʊmɪn, bɪˈtjuːmɪnəs /

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

    1. informal any road with a bitumen surface

    2. informal (capital) the road in the Northern Territory between Darwin and Alice Springs

  5. a transparent brown pigment or glaze made from asphalt

"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
bitumen Scientific  
/ 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.

Other Word Forms

  • bituminoid adjective
  • bituminous adjective

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.

But Carney's memorandum of understanding with Alberta to advance an initiative that involves piping bitumen to Canada's northwest Pacific coast and building a massive port to accommodate oil tankers has drawn outrage.

From Barron's • Nov. 28, 2025

It is more breathable but is often installed where a highly-resistant underlay like bitumen felt is already present, stopping vapour from escaping.

From BBC • Nov. 17, 2024

Volatile dilutants added to the heavy bitumen from Alberta enable it to flow through the pipeline.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 4, 2024

Veniamin Kondratyev, the head of the regional government, said the Ukrainians drones had targeted two oil refineries, a bitumen plant, and a military airfield in Kuban.

From New York Times • Apr. 27, 2024

It was an oleagenous process, mixed with bichromate of potash, or bitumen of Judea, and always smelt of bad fat.

From The Evolution of Photography With a Chronological Record of Discoveries, Inventions, etc., Contributions to Photographic Literature, and Personal Reminescences Extending over Forty Years by Werge, John

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.