Definition of Bitumen

1. Noun. Any of various naturally occurring impure mixtures of hydrocarbons.

Generic synonyms: Hydrocarbon
Specialized synonyms: Pitch, Tar
Derivative terms: Bituminize, Bituminous

Definition of Bitumen

1. n. Mineral pitch; a black, tarry substance, burning with a bright flame; Jew's pitch. 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. See Asphalt.

Definition of Bitumen

1. Noun. Mineral pitch; a black, tarry substance, burning with a bright flame; Jew’s pitch. 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, et cetera. ¹

2. Noun. By extension, 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. ¹

3. Noun. (Canadian English) Canadian deposits of extremely heavy crude oil[ ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Bitumen

1. an asphalt [n -S]

Lexicographical Neighbors of Bitumen

bittocks
bittor
bittor bittour
bittorrents
bittors
bittour
bittours
bitts
bittur
bitturs
bitty
bitty box
bitucarpin
bitumastic
bitumed
bitumen (current term)
bitumenised
bitumenoid
bitumens
bitumina
bituminate
bituminated
bituminates
bituminating
bituminiferous
bituminise
bituminised
bituminises
bituminising
bituminization

Literary usage of Bitumen

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The English Historical Review by Mandell Creighton, Justin Winsor, Samuel Rawson Gardiner, Reginald Lane Poole, John Goronwy Edwards (1899)
"This latter is the source of the bitumen of commerce of a great part of Babylonia . . . when rocks crop out about Hit, they are full of seams of bitumen, ..."

2. The Natural History of Pliny by Pliny, John Bostock, Henry Thomas Riley (1857)
"Nearly approaching to the nature of sulphur is that of bitumen,1 which in some places assumes the form of a slime, and in others that of an earth; a slime, ..."

3. The Mining Magazine (1857)
"Bricks or stones coated with hot bitumen resist moisture, and are rendered ... 'All the volatile oil and water should be expelled trom bitumen by boiling ..."

4. Elements of Chemistry: Including the Recent Discoveries and Doctrines of the by Edward Turner (1835)
"They may be conveniently arranged under the two heads of bitumen and pit-coal. The first comprehends naphtha, petroleum, mineral tar, ..."

Other Resources:

Search for Bitumen on Dictionary.com!Search for Bitumen on Thesaurus.com!Search for Bitumen on Google!Search for Bitumen on Wikipedia!

Search