mixed asphalt and crushed gravel or sand; used especially for paving but also for roofing
"The construction crew spread a thick layer of black asphalt over the road to create a smooth, durable surface."
a dark bituminous substance found in natural beds and as residue from petroleum distillation; consists mainly of hydrocarbons
"The engineers analyzed the sample to determine if the road surface was made from naturally occurring asphalt or its petroleum-based residue."
A sticky, black and highly viscous liquid or semi-solid, composed almost entirely of bitumen, that is present in most crude petroleums and in some natural deposits.
"Scientists analyzed the heavy, black asphalt extracted from the deep-earth oil reservoirs to study its unique chemical composition."
In plain English: Asphalt is the black, sticky material used to make roads and driveways that cars drive on every day.
"The construction crew poured fresh asphalt to repair the pothole on Main Street."
Usage: Asphalt refers to the hardened mixture used for paving roads rather than just the raw tar-like substance found in petroleum. It is often confused with "tarmac," but asphalt contains no actual tar despite its sticky appearance when heated.
To pave with asphalt.
"The city workers will soon asphalt the newly dug road."
The word comes from the Ancient Greek áspaltos, meaning "asphalt" or "bitumen," and entered English via Late Latin. It replaced an earlier Old English term for earthy oil that had fallen out of use.