bitumen

bi·tu·men

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

Definition of BITUMEN

1

: an asphalt of Asia Minor used in ancient times as a cement and mortar

2

: 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

Origin of BITUMEN

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

First Known Use: 15th century

Other Mining and Drilling Terms

ore, trepan, wildcat

Rhymes with BITUMEN

acumen, albumen, albumin, cerumen, ichneumon, illumine, inhuman, panhuman, prehuman, subhuman