bitumen

noun

bi·​tu·​men bə-ˈtyü-mən 

bī-,

-ˈtü-,

 especially British also  ˈbit-yə-

1

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

2

: any of various mixtures of hydrocarbons (such as tar) often together with their nonmetallic derivatives that occur naturally or are obtained as residues after heat-refining natural substances (such as petroleum)

specifically : such a mixture soluble in carbon disulfide

bituminization

bə-ˌtyü-mə-nə-ˈzā-shən 

bī-

-ˌtü-

noun

bituminize

bə-ˈtyü-mə-ˌnīz 

bī-

-ˈtü-

transitive verb

Examples of bitumen in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The tapered part of the bone had remnants of bitumen, and ancient resin, that suggests the pointed piece was attached to a shaft, likely wood at one end, according to the study. —Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 6 May 2025

When the asphalt samples were subjected to conditions that caused micro-cracks to form in the bitumen, the spores within those cracks ruptured and released the sunflower oil. —Ben Coxworth, New Atlas, 26 Feb. 2025

The loaded spores were then added to bitumen, which was in turn used in the production of small pieces of asphalt. —Ben Coxworth, New Atlas, 26 Feb. 2025

This article describes how the pilot, which focused on the company’s bitumen waterproofing systems, unfolded at Soprema. —Robert S. Kaplan timmy Melotte, Harvard Business Review, 20 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for bitumen

• acumen
• albumen
• albumin
• cerumen
• curcumin
• illumine
• inhuman
• nonhuman
• subhuman
• crewman
• crewmen
• cumin