asphalt

/ˈæʃfɑlt/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: asphalts · asphalting · asphalted

Sense 1

Meaning · English

A sticky, black to brown and highly viscous liquid or semi-solid, composed almost entirely of bitumen with small mineral particles, that is present in most crude petroleums and in some natural deposits.

Noun

Examples

The mining of asphalt was big business in this area in the early twentieth century.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

To pave with asphalt.

Verb

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “asphalt” mean?

A sticky, black to brown and highly viscous liquid or semi-solid, composed almost entirely of bitumen with small mineral particles, that is present in most crude petroleums and in some natural deposits.

Is “asphalt” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.