bituminous

[ bahy-too-muh-nuhs, -tyoo-, bih- ]

adjective

1. resembling or containing bitumen:

   bituminous shale.

Other Words From

• nonbi·tumi·nous adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of bituminous¹

1610–20; < Latin bitūminōsus, equivalent to bitūmin- (stem of bitūmen ) bitumen + -ōsus -ous

Example Sentences

Gob, an acronym for “garbage of bituminous,” is waste coal — low-quality material dug from a mine that is mixed with rock and clay, making it harder and less efficient to burn.

From Seattle Times

The bituminous crude requires mixing before it can be transported and exported.

From Reuters

Last year, the Mitchell plant burned about 2.5 million tons of bituminous coal.

From Washington Times

Just east of the school as Railroad Avenue turns into Quinnon Extended are the historic coke ovens, where tons of bituminous coal were smelted into coke.

From Seattle Times

Steam locomotives rely on bituminous lump coal to burn, which is relatively smokeless and comparatively clean.

From BBC