Main Entry:

bi·tu·men

Pronunciation:

\bə-ˈtyü-mən, bī-, -ˈtü-, especially British also ˈbit-yə-\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle English bithumen mineral pitch, from Latin bitumin-, bitumen

Date:

15th century

1: an asphalt of Asia Minor used in ancient times as a cement and mortar2: any of various mixtures of hydrocarbons (as tar) often together with their nonmetallic derivatives that occur naturally or are obtained as residues after heat-refining natural substances (as petroleum) ; specifically : such a mixture soluble in carbon disulfide

— bi·tu·mi·ni·za·tion \bə-ˌtyü-mə-nə-ˈzā-shən, bī-, -ˌtü-\ noun

— bi·tu·mi·nize \-ˈtyü-mə-ˌnīz, -ˈtü-\ transitive verb