asphalt
[ as-fawlt or, esp. British, -falt ]
/ ˈæs fɔlt or, esp. British, -fælt /
noun
any of various dark-colored, solid, bituminous substances, native in various areas of the earth and composed mainly of hydrocarbon mixtures.
a similar substance that is the by-product of petroleum-cracking operations.
a mixture of such substances with gravel, crushed rock, or the like, used for paving.
verb (used with object)
to cover or pave with asphalt.
adjective
of, relating to, or containing asphalt: asphalt tile.
Origin of asphalt
1275–1325; earlier
asphaltos, -um < Latin < Greek
ásphaltos, -on, akin to
asphalízein to make firm, to secure; replacing Middle English
aspaltoun ≪ Greek
ásphalton
OTHER WORDS FROM asphalt
as·phal·tic, adjective as·phalt·like, adjective un·as·phalt·ed, adjectiveWords nearby asphalt
aspermatism,
aspermia,
asperse,
aspersion,
aspersorium,
asphalt,
asphalt jungle,
asphalt paper,
asphalt rock,
asphaltene,
asphaltite
Example sentences from the Web for asphalt
British Dictionary definitions for asphalt
asphalt
/ (ˈæsfælt, ˈæʃ-, -fɔːlt) /
noun
any of several black semisolid substances composed of bitumen and inert mineral matter. They occur naturally in parts of America and as a residue from petroleum distillation: used as a waterproofing material and in paints, dielectrics, and fungicides
a mixture of this substance with gravel, used in road-surfacing and roofing materials
(modifier)
containing or surfaced with asphalt
verb
(tr)
to cover with asphalt
Derived forms of asphalt
asphaltic, adjectiveWord Origin for asphalt
C14: from Late Latin
aspaltus, from Greek
asphaltos, probably from
a-
1 +
sphallein to cause to fall; referring to its use as a binding agent
Scientific definitions for asphalt
asphalt
[ ăs′fôlt′ ]
A thick, sticky, dark-brown mixture of petroleum tars used in paving, roofing, and waterproofing. Asphalt is produced as a byproduct in refining petroleum or is found in natural beds.