Bitumen

Definitions

1. A sticky, black, highly viscous liquid or semi-solid form of petroleum, burning with a bright flame. 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.; Mineral pitch.
   countable, uncountable
2. 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.
   broadly, countable, uncountable
3. Roads sealed with bitumen, as opposed to dirt roads.
   Australia, colloquial, countable, uncountable
4. Canadian deposits of extremely heavy crude oil.
   Canada, countable, uncountable

Equivalents

Examples

“You need⟳ to excavate and remove⟳ the topsoil, line the subsoil with a geotextile, then lay⟳ and compact hardcore. Follow⟳ this with a layer of compacted "hoggin" – compacted clay, gravel and sand. This is then sprayed with hot bitumen, and has a layer of pea shingle rolled into it.”

CEFR level