bituminous coal

American  

noun

1. a mineral coal that contains volatile hydrocarbons and tarry matter and burns with a yellow, smoky flame; soft coal.

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bituminous coal British  

noun

1. Also called: soft coal.  a soft black coal, rich in volatile hydrocarbons, that burns with a smoky yellow flame. Fixed carbon content: 46–86 per cent; calorific value: 1.93 × 10 ⁷ – 3.63 × 10 ⁷ J/kg

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bituminous coal Scientific  

/ bĭ-to̅o̅′mə-nəs /

1. A soft type of coal that burns with a smoky, yellow flame. Bituminous coal is the most abundant form of coal. It has a high sulfur content, and when burned, gives off sulfurous compounds that contribute to air pollution and acid rain.

2. Compare anthracite lignite

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Etymology

Origin of bituminous coal

First recorded in 1875–80

Compare meaning

How does bituminous-coal compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• anthracite vs. bituminous coal

Example Sentences

Last year, the Mitchell plant burned about 2.5 million tons of bituminous coal.

From Washington Times • Apr. 20, 2021

Coal tipples and the soft bituminous coal they handle are more common in Western Pennsylvania, she said.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 25, 2017

With increasing heat and pressure, lignite turns to sub-bituminous coal, bituminous coal, and then, in a process like metamorphism, anthracite.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2017

The “souvenir” globes are filled with plastics collected from the Hudson River and the rocks are made of bituminous coal from a closed landfill in Deadhorse Bay, both in in south Brooklyn.

From Time • Jun. 8, 2016

“He’s developing a technology to burn low-grade bituminous coal more efficiently.”

From "The Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls