ASPHALT

I. noun also ~um Etymology: Middle English aspalt, from Late Latin aspaltus, from Greek ~os Date: 14th century a dark bituminous substance that is found in natural beds and is also obtained as a residue in petroleum refining and that consists chiefly of hydrocarbons, an ~ic composition used for pavements and as a waterproof cement, ~ic adjective II. transitive verb Date: circa 1859 to cover with ~ ; pave 1