: 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
2
: an asphaltic composition used for pavements and as a waterproof cement
Lemon Grove leaders advanced two measures Tuesday to fix city streets, as improving budgets give officials more options to deal with crumbling asphalt. Blake Nelsonstaff Reporter, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Aug. 2022 Those residents say the trees are vital to the neighborhood, which is covered with asphalt and concrete and swelters in the warmer months. David Abel, BostonGlobe.com, 2 July 2022 Now hospitals are treating significant burn cases from contact with asphalt and cement. Francine Kiefer, The Christian Science Monitor, 24 June 2021 Escape routes became choke points, lines of cars inching along melting asphalt. Katherine Blunt, WSJ, 25 Aug. 2022 Skid marks and black circles have already scarred the bridge’s asphalt.Los Angeles Times, 22 Aug. 2022 In many places, the asphalt has fallen into the sea, a good five meters below, and fence posts, suspended by a guardrail, droop into the abyss. Taras Grescoe, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 July 2022 For decades, the postcard-worthy landscape has befuddled engineers and terrorized drivers with its winding asphalt atop eroding bluffs. Vanessa Arredondo, San Francisco Chronicle, 30 June 2022 Standard Oil began using the property in 1863 for crude oil distillation, reforming, cracking, alkylation, coking and asphalt production. Kaitlin Durbin, cleveland, 17 Aug. 2022
Verb
Kids are at risk too, thanks to asphalt schoolyards that can hit 145 degrees in the San Fernando Valley, Alejandra Reyes-Velarde reports. Sammy Rothstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2022 Lined with wood chips and bark dust, the 4.4-mile loop was inspired by Prefontaine, who suggested the idea of building a trail with an alternate surface to asphalt in the park after competing in Europe.oregonlive, 18 July 2022 On one occasion, Warner lied about the square footage and asphalt depth on an airport roadway project, creating and later approving a $938,000 bill from the subcontractor, who had only invoiced for $275,000. Tresa Baldas, Detroit Free Press, 11 Feb. 2022 City Council is expected to soon approve numerous service department expenditures, including a brand-new chipper ($59,280), leaf vacuums ($149,465) and asphalt recycler with hot box trailer ($33,348). John Benson, cleveland, 23 June 2021 That’s especially true for low-income residents, who also disproportionately live in heat islands — areas where abundant concrete and asphalt soak up the sun’s rays and radiate excess heat, driving up the cost of staying cool. Dharna Noor, BostonGlobe.com, 20 May 2022 That leaves 18 gallons for other uses, from making plastics and paint to asphalt and ammonia. Bryan Pearson, Forbes, 26 Apr. 2022 Thomas says low-slope roofs have become more expensive than steep-slope, not because of the membrane, which is close to asphalt in cost, but because the removal and installation of materials is so labor-intensive.Washington Post, 13 Oct. 2021 But lobbyists and transportation experts expect an outsize portion of the pavement spending to go to asphalt, the material that paves 94% of America's roads and bridges. The New York Times, Arkansas Online, 20 Feb. 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English aspalt, from Late Latin aspaltus, from Greek asphaltos