bitumen
Americannoun
-
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.
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
-
-
informal any road with a bitumen surface
-
informal (capital) the road in the Northern Territory between Darwin and Alice Springs
-
-
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.
Similar to Canadian diluted bitumen, it’s poorly suited for long-term storage because it can separate in salt caverns over time, Toronto-based oil market researcher Rory Johnston told Barron’s.
From Barron's ● Jan. 7, 2026
Also known as bitumen, asphalt is a sticky black substance derived from crude oil, widely used to construct roads, highways and airport runways.
From BBC ● Feb. 3, 2025
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
Having the qualities of bitumen; compounded with bitumen; containing bitumen.
From Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (2nd 100 Pages) by Noah Webster
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.
