Bitumen (Noun)
Meaning
Any of various naturally occurring impure mixtures of hydrocarbons.
Classification
Nouns denoting substances.
Examples
- The construction crew applied a layer of bitumen to the road surface to seal and protect it from the elements.
- The ancient Egyptians used bitumen to caulk the seams of their wooden ships and to waterproof their buildings.
- The oil sands in Alberta, Canada are a major source of bitumen, which is then refined into various petroleum products.
- The bitumen deposits in the Dead Sea region have been exploited for centuries, with the ancient Greeks and Romans using it for a variety of purposes.
- The construction of the ancient city of Babylon was facilitated by the use of bitumen as a binding agent in the mortar that held the bricks together.