I. ˈaˌsfȯlt, ˈaa-, Brit usually & US sometimes -falt, sporadic & old-fash -felt noun
or as·phal·tum ̷ ̷ˈ ̷ ̷təm ; also as·phalte like asphalt
( -s )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: alteration (probably influenced by Late Latin asphaltus, from Greek asphaltos ) of earlier aspaltum, alteration (probably influenced by assumed Medieval Latin aspaltum, alteration of Late Latin aspaltus ) of Middle English aspaltoun, aspalt, from (assumed) Medieval Latin aspaltum & Late Latin aspaltus, from Greek asphaltos, asphalton, perhaps from a- a- (II) + - sphaltos, -sphalton (akin to Greek sphallein to cause to fall); from its possible use as a binding agent in stone walls — more at spell
1. : a brown to black bituminous substance found native around the Dead sea, in Trinidad, and elsewhere and also obtained as a residue from certain petroleums consisting chiefly of a mixture of hydrocarbons, varying from hard and brittle to plastic in form, melting on heating, being insoluble in water but soluble in gasoline, and used especially for paving and roofing, in paints and varnishes, and because light renders certain grades insoluble in oil of turpentine for photomechanical work
2.
a. : a composition of ground asphalt rock and bitumen, of bitumen, lime, and gravel, or even of coal tar, lime, and sand used for forming pavements and as a waterproof cement (as for bridges and roofs)
b. : a surface (as a path or roadway) paved with asphalt
3.
a. : smoke brown
b. asphaltum : congo 4
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
1. : to cover or pave with asphalt or a mixture containing asphalt
the road itself was magnificently asphalted from side to side — Max Beerbohm
2. : to impregnate (as paper) with asphalt
asphalted bags, placed between the outer case and the packaged food — Science News Letter