ASPHALT • DICTIONARY ONE.COM • Definition of Asphalt

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/ˈæsfˌɔlt/ Listen

noun

Asphaltum, Asphalt n.

Mineral pitch, Jews' pitch, or compact native bitumen. It is brittle, of a black or brown color and high luster on a surface of fracture; it melts and burns when heated, leaving no residue. It occurs on the surface and shores of the Dead Sea, which is therefore called Asphaltites, or the Asphaltic Lake. It is found also in many parts of Asia, Europe, and America. See Bitumen.

A composition of bitumen, pitch, lime, and gravel, used for forming pavements, and as a water-proof cement for bridges, roofs, etc.; asphaltic cement. Artificial asphalt is prepared from coal tar, lime, sand, etc.

Asphalt stone, Asphalt rock, a limestone found impregnated with asphalt.

verb

Asphalt v. t. To cover with asphalt; as, to asphalt a roof; asphalted streets.

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Etymology of 'Asphalt'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Asphalt" Quotes from Famous Books

... he made him out. There was to be seen an elderly man, roughly dressed, possibly the same man whose proximity Trencher had felt rather than observed just before Sonntag made the gun play, and this man was half-squatted out on the asphalt with his back to where the rest circled and swirled about the body. Moreover, this person was staring directly in Trencher's direction. As Trencher passed within the revolving door he saw the man pivot on his heels and start at an angle toward the policeman just ...

— From Place to Place • Irvin S. Cobb

... came the sound of quick, springy footsteps along the asphalt from the direction of the barracks. Mrs. Truscott ...

— Marion's Faith. • Charles King

... When American Indians made their silent way through the forests or roamed the plains there was no overhead. Each provided his own means of locomotion. With roads came bridges. With roads and bridges came capital costs. As dirt roads gave way to macadam and macadam to asphalt and concrete, as country roads, winding over hill and through dale were replaced by graded superhighways cut straight through or built over all obstacles, the cost per mile rose fantastically. All of these added costs appeared ...

— Civilization and Beyond - Learning From History • Scott Nearing

... the house, I ran off to the Park. I did almost run, really. There was a song at my lips: "Gladdest, oh, gladdest, most beautiful in the world; blessed, most blessed, most beautiful in the world!" and the "tap-tap" of horses' feet on the asphalt, the "b-r-r-r-rp" of the cable cars and the rattle of elevated trains kept time, until all the city ...

— The Bacillus of Beauty - A Romance of To-day • Harriet Stark

... on the road; so much was gain. Except in the villages, and once or twice where a slow, rattling wagon was plodding along on the wet mirror-like asphalt, Rachael might make her own speed. The road lay straight, and was an exceptionally good road, even in this weather. She need hardly pause for signboards. The rain still fell in sheets. ...

— The Heart of Rachael • Kathleen Norris

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