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.
Plant resins released aromatic compounds and sesquiterpenoids, while bitumen produced naphthenic compounds.
From Science Daily • Mar. 16, 2026
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
The smell of fire, the hot blast in her hair, the choking smoke of blazing bitumen, suggested to her only the thought of her own house decorations, her hangings, and ornaments, and stores.
From The Expositor's Bible: The Book of Genesis by Dods, Marcus
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.
