bituminous coal
noun
a mineral coal that contains volatile hydrocarbons and tarry matter and burns with a yellow, smoky flame; soft coal.
Origin of bituminous coal
First recorded in 1875–80
Words nearby bituminous coal
bittorrent,
bitty,
bitumen,
bituminize,
bituminous,
bituminous coal,
bitzer,
biunique,
biuniqueness,
biuret,
biuret reaction
British Dictionary definitions for bituminous coal
bituminous coal
noun
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
Also called: soft coal
Scientific definitions for bituminous coal
bituminous coal
[ bĭ-tōō′mə-nəs ]
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. Compare anthracite lignite.