bitumen
[ bahy-too-muh n, -tyoo-, bi-, bich-oo- ]
/ baɪˈtu mən, -ˈtyu-, bɪ-, ˈbɪtʃ ʊ- /
noun
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.
Origin of bitumen
1425–75; late Middle English
bithumen < Latin
bitūmen
OTHER WORDS FROM bitumen
bi·tu·mi·noid [bahy-too-muh-noid, -tyoo-, bi-] /baɪˈtu məˌnɔɪd, -ˈtyu-, bɪ-/, adjectiveWords nearby bitumen
bitterwort,
bitting,
bittock,
bittorrent,
bitty,
bitumen,
bituminize,
bituminous,
bituminous coal,
bitzer,
biunique
Example sentences from the Web for bitumen
British Dictionary definitions for bitumen
bitumen
/ (ˈbɪtjʊmɪn) /
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
the bitumen
- Australian and NZ informal any road with a bitumen surface
- (capital) Australian informal the road in the Northern Territory between Darwin and Alice Springs
a transparent brown pigment or glaze made from asphalt
Derived forms of bitumen
bituminous (bɪˈtjuːmɪnəs), adjectiveWord Origin for bitumen
C15: from Latin
bitūmen, perhaps of Celtic origin
Scientific definitions for bitumen
bitumen
[ bĭ-tōō′mən ]
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.