bitumen

Meanings

Noun

• 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.
• 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.
• Canadian deposits of extremely heavy crude oil.

Verb

• To cover or fill with bitumen.

Related

Similar words

• , , , slime

Origin

• From Latin bitūmen.