English Explanatory Dictionary

bitumen

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A sticky, black, highly viscous liquid or semi-solid form of petroleum, burning with a bright flame. It occurs as an abundant natural product in many places, as on the shores of the Dead and Caspian Seas. It is used in cements, in the construction of pavements, etc.; Mineral pitch.
  2. Any one of the natural hydrocarbons, including the hard, solid, brittle varieties called asphalt, the semisolid maltha and mineral tars, the oily petrolea, and even the light, volatile naphthas.
  3. Roads sealed with bitumen, as opposed to dirt roads.
  4. Canadian deposits of extremely heavy crude oil.
verb
  1. To cover or fill with bitumen.

Pronunciation

/ˈbɪt.jʊ.mɪn/ /ˈbɪt͡ʃ.ʊ.mɪn/ /bɪˈtumən/ /bɪˈtjumən/ /baɪˈtumən/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Mélange a trois-bitumen.wav LL-Q1860 (eng)-Naomi Persephone Amethyst (NaomiAmethyst)-bitumen.wav

Word forms

bitumen bitumina bitumens bitumening bitumened

Etymology

From Middle English bithumen, bitumen, from Latin bitūmen. Doublet of bitume.

Synonyms

Jew's pitch bitume Jew’s lime Jew’s slime slime bituminize

Related words

asphalt

Derived words

bitumenised bitumen of Judea bituminiferous bituminoid bituminous bitumoid crude bitumen dilbit modified bitumen pyrobitumen refined bitumen
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