asphalt English · revision 762

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈæsfælt/, /ˈæsfəlt/ ''(UK)''; /ˈæsfɔlt/, /ˈæʃfɔlt/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|aspalt]], ''aspaltoun'',^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)^(Hoad 1986) [[bor|la-lat|asphaltum]], ''aspaltus'',^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(Hoad 1986) [[der|grc|ἄσφαλτος|tr=ásphaltos|t=asphalt, bitumen]].^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(Hoad 1986) The Greek word is often explained as ''a-'' “not” and ''*sphaltós'' “able to be thrown down”, from ''sphállein'', from its use as a binding material that kept walls from falling,^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) but Beekes finds this weak, and it may be from a Semitic or other non-Greek source.^(Etymonline) The later spelling ''asphalt'' reproduces French ''asphalte''.^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A hard, black or brownish resinous mineral pitch found originally in Biblical lands (c. 1325 in the OED; early 14th century in Etymonline; before 1398 in Barnhart).^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The meaning “paving composition of bitumen, pitch and gravel” dates from 1847,^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) and its popular use in this sense established the modern form, displacing ''asphaltum'' and ''asphaltos'' in most senses.^(Etymonline) The verb, to cover with asphalt, dates from about 1859 in Merriam-Webster and 1872 in the OED.^(MW Collegiate)^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1325 – mineral pitch.^(OED 1989)

+ * about 1380 – ''asphaltoun''.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1847 – a paving composition.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1859 – verb, to pave with asphalt.^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1872 – first OED quotation of the verb.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A brownish-black solid or semisolid mixture of [[bitumen|alt=bitumens]], found in natural deposits or obtained as a by-product of [[petroleum]] refining, used in paving, roofing and waterproofing.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Asphalt mixed with crushed stone, gravel or sand, used for paving or roofing.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To pave or coat with asphalt.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[asphaltic]]

+ * [[asphaltlike]]

+ * [[asphaltite]]

+ * [[asphaltene]]

+ * [[glasphalt]]

+ * [[asphalt jungle]]

+ * [[asphalt paper]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[bitumen]]

+ * [[tar]]

+ * [[pitch]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}