asphalt

C1 Topic:Materials & Substances

US /ˈæsfɑːlt/ UK /ˈæsfɔːlt/ See IPA manual

Freq #19800

Meanings

1

noun
a black, sticky form of bitumen found naturally or left after petroleum is refined

The refinery separates asphalt from lighter petroleum products.
2

noun
a paving material made by mixing asphalt with sand or crushed stone

Workers laid fresh asphalt across the damaged section of road.
3

verb
to cover or pave a surface with asphalt

The council plans to asphalt the access road before winter.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a black, sticky form of... bitumenmineral pitch

2 noun · a paving material made by... asphalt concretepaving mix

3 verb · to cover or pave a surface... pave surface

Word family

Derived forms asphalteneasphalticasphaltite

Related forms bitumenpetroleum pavement

Etymology

From Late Latin asphaltum, from Greek asphaltos, "asphalt, bitumen." The ancient word named naturally occurring mineral pitch used for waterproofing and construction; modern asphalt is also obtained as a residue of petroleum refining.

Topics

Materials & Substances

External links

# asphalt

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** noun, verb
**IPA (US):** /ˈæsfɑːlt/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈæsfɔːlt/
**Frequency rank:** 19800

## Meanings
1. a black, sticky form of bitumen found naturally or left after petroleum is refined
2. a paving material made by mixing asphalt with sand or crushed stone
3. to cover or pave a surface with asphalt

## Examples
- The refinery separates asphalt from lighter petroleum products.
- Workers laid fresh asphalt across the damaged section of road.
- The council plans to asphalt the access road before winter.

## Synonyms
- bitumen
- mineral pitch
- paving mix

## Derived Forms
- asphaltene
- asphaltic
- asphaltite

## Related Forms
- bitumen
- petroleum
- pavement

## Etymology
From Late Latin asphaltum, from Greek asphaltos, "asphalt, bitumen." The ancient word named naturally occurring mineral pitch used for waterproofing and construction; modern asphalt is also obtained as a residue of petroleum refining.

## Topics
- Materials & Substances

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