asphalt
as.phalt or as.phal.tum \'as-.fo.lt\ \as-'fo.l-t*m\ \as-'fo.l-tik\ n [ME aspalt, fr. LL aspaltus, fr. Gk asphaltos] 1: a brown to black bituminous substance that is found in natural beds and is also obtained as a residue in petroleum or coal-tar refining and consists chiefly of hydrocarbons 2: an asphaltic composition used for pavements and as a waterproof cement - as.phal.tic aj