n.
Pronunciation: b ə - ' tyü-m ə n, b ī -, - ' tü-, esp Brit also ' bit-y ə -
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English bithumen mineral pitch, from Latin bitumin-, bitumen
Date: 15th century
1 : an asphalt of Asia Minor used in ancient times as a cement and mortar
2 : any of various mixtures of hydrocarbons (as tar) often together with their nonmetallic derivatives that occur naturally or are obtained as residues after heat-refining natural substances (as petroleum) specifically : such a mixture soluble in carbon disulfide
– bi · tu · mi · ni · za · tion \ b ə - ˌ tyü-m ə -n ə - ' z ā -sh ə n, b ī -, - ˌ tü- \ noun
– bi · tu · mi · nize \ - ' tyü-m ə - ˌ n ī z, - ' tü- \ transitive verb