asphalt

/'æsfælt/

Thân thiện

The workers pour hot asphalt onto the new road.

Definition

1. Noun:

   • A dark, sticky, and highly viscous liquid or semi-solid form of petroleum: It is a naturally occurring substance or a residue from petroleum distillation, primarily composed of hydrocarbons. It is black or brown in color.
   • A mixture used for surfacing: A composite material made by mixing this bituminous substance with mineral aggregates like crushed stone, sand, or gravel, used primarily for paving roads and also for roofing.

2. Verb:

   • To cover or surface with asphalt: The act of applying asphalt, typically the paving mixture, to a surface like a road, driveway, or roof.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • The new road was constructed using a high-quality asphalt.
  • Natural deposits of asphalt can be found in places like the La Brea Tar Pits.

• Verb:

  • The city plans to asphalt several streets in the downtown area next month.
  • We need to asphalt the driveway before the winter rains.

Advanced Usage

• "Asphalt jungle": A metaphorical term for a large, modern city, especially one perceived as harsh, competitive, and dangerous.

  • He moved from a small town to the asphalt jungle of New York to pursue his career.

• "Asphalt concrete": The technical term for the composite material commonly called "asphalt" or "tarmac" when used for pavements.

  • The engineer specified a particular grade of asphalt concrete for the highway project.

Variants and Related Words

• Asphaltic (adj): Relating to or containing asphalt.

  • The asphaltic material was heated before application.

• Asphaltene (n): A complex molecular component of asphalt and other heavy petroleum fractions.

  • The chemical analysis focused on the asphaltene content.

• Bitumen (n): A broader category of viscous, sticky hydrocarbons, which includes asphalt. Asphalt is often considered a type of bitumen.

  • Bitumen has been used as a waterproofing agent since ancient times.

Synonyms

• Tarmac (n): A common term for asphalt paving, especially on roads and runways (short for "tarmacadam").
• Blacktop (n): A colloquial term for asphalt pavement.
• Pavement (n): The general surface material, often made of asphalt or concrete.
• Tar (n): A dark, thick fluid from organic materials; sometimes used interchangeably with asphalt in non-technical contexts, though they are chemically distinct.

Related Phrases

• "Hot-mix asphalt": Asphalt concrete that is produced and laid at high temperatures.

  • Hot-mix asphalt provides a more durable surface.

• "Asphalt overlay": A new layer of asphalt applied over an existing pavement.

  • The maintenance plan includes an asphalt overlay for the aging boulevard.

Học thuật

Noun

1. a dark bituminous substance found in natural beds and as residue from petroleum distillation; consists mainly of hydrocarbons
2. mixed asphalt and crushed gravel or sand; used especially for paving but also for roofing

Verb

1. cover with tar or asphalt
   • asphalt the driveway

Từ đồng nghĩa

• mineral pitch