noun
Uncommon
asphalt
AS-falt
Asphalt (noun) means a thick, sticky black substance used mainly for surfacing roads, mixed with sand and gravel. Example: “Workers laid fresh asphalt on the highway overnight.”
noun
1
A thick, sticky black substance used mainly for surfacing roads, mixed with sand and gravel.
"Workers laid fresh asphalt on the highway overnight."
"The playground was covered in cracked asphalt."
verb
1
To cover a surface with asphalt.
"The council plans to asphalt the parking lot next month."
How to use asphalt
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe dark surface material used to pave roads and driveways; also the act of laying it down.
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- asphalts
- Past tense
- asphalted
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Workers laid fresh _____ on the highway overnight.
Etymology
From Ancient Greek asphaltos, meaning "bitumen" — a naturally occurring tar-like substance.
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “asphalt” mean?
The word “asphalt” means a thick, sticky black substance used mainly for surfacing roads, mixed with sand and gravel. In plain terms, the dark surface material used to pave roads and driveways; also the act of laying it down.
How do you pronounce “asphalt”?
“Asphalt” is pronounced AS-falt (/ˈæsfɔlt/ in IPA).
How do you use “asphalt” in a sentence?
Here is “asphalt” used in a sentence: “Workers laid fresh asphalt on the highway overnight.”
What part of speech is “asphalt”?
Depending on how it is used, “asphalt” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “asphalt” come from?
The word “asphalt” comes from Ancient Greek. From Ancient Greek asphaltos, meaning "bitumen" — a naturally occurring tar-like substance.
Is “asphalt” a common word?
“Asphalt” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “asphalt” have?
“Asphalt” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a thick, sticky black substance used mainly for surfacing roads, mixed with sand and gravel.
What is the difference between asphalt and asphalt as a verb?
As a noun, asphalt refers to the thick, sticky black substance mixed with sand and gravel to surface roads. As a verb, to asphalt means to cover a surface with this material, as in "they asphalted the driveway."
What is asphalt made of?
Asphalt is a thick, sticky black substance that is mixed with sand and gravel to create a durable surfacing material, mainly used for roads. This mixture gives it the strength needed to withstand vehicle traffic.
What is asphalt mainly used for?
Asphalt is mainly used for surfacing roads, combining the sticky black substance with sand and gravel to create a hard-wearing driving surface. It can also be applied to other surfaces that need similar durability.
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