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asphalt
The definition of asphalt is a black or brown, tar-like substance that is used to cover roadways and is usually mixed with gravel.
(noun)Blacktop on your driveway is an example of asphalt.
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See asphalt in Webster's New World College Dictionary
noun
- a brown or black, tarlike, bituminous substance that consists mainly of hydrocarbons, found in large flat beds or made by refining petroleum
- a mixture of this with sand or gravel, for cementing, paving, roofing, etc.
Origin: ML asphaltus < Gr asphaltos, prob. < a-, not + sphallein, to cause to fall, injure (< IE base *(s)p(h)el-, to split off > spill): ? so named because of use as protective substance for walls
transitive verb
to pave, roof, etc. with asphalt
Related Forms:
- asphaltic adjective
See asphalt in American Heritage Dictionary 4
noun
- A brownish-black solid or semisolid mixture of bitumens obtained from native deposits or as a petroleum byproduct, used in paving, roofing, and waterproofing.
- Mixed asphalt and crushed stone gravel or sand, used for paving or roofing.
To pave or coat with asphalt.
Origin:
Origin: Middle English aspalt
Origin: , from Medieval Latin asphaltus
Origin: , from Greek asphaltos
.Related Forms:
- as·phalˈtic adjective
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