any of several black semisolid substances composed of bitumen and inert mineral matter. They occur naturally in parts of America and as a residue from petroleum distillation: used as a waterproofing material and in paints, dielectrics, and fungicides
2.
a mixture of this substance with gravel, used in road-surfacing and roofing materials
3. (modifier)
containing or surfaced with asphalt
verb
4. (transitive)
to cover with asphalt
Derived forms
asphaltic (asˈphaltic)
adjective
Word origin
C14: from Late Latin aspaltus, from Greek asphaltos, probably from a-1 + sphallein to cause to fall; referring to its use as a binding agent