From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishbitumenbi‧tu‧men /ˈbɪtʃʊmɪn $ bɪˈtuː-/ noun [uncountable] TTRa dark sticky substance that is used for making the surface of roads —bituminous /bɪˈtjuːmɪnəs $ -ˈtuː-/ adjective
Examples from the Corpus
bitumen• Some researchers are pursuing studies in soil stabilisation using cement, lime and bitumen.• Wood blocks can be laid in hot-application bitumen.• Mr Martinson, 44, was burned by boiling bitumen while dumping it.• The contractors immediately offered to pay for new tyres to replace those caked in bitumen.• This turned the organic matter into liquid bitumen, which squeezed into pores and fractures in the rock.• A cool desert wind wrapped us in dust as we sped along the bitumen.• As the temperature rose, the bitumen was further cooked into a solid char containing graphite.• Discarded vinegar or wine casks also make excellent small-pool containers, when sawn in half and waterproofed inside with bitumen paint.Origin bitumen (1400-1500) Latin 