Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun A pavement consisting of layers of crushed stone with a tar binder pressed to a smooth surface.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun archaic A
mixture of tar and small stones used inpaving . - verb transitive To cover or surface with tarmacadam.
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun a paving material of tar and broken stone; mixed in a factory and shaped during paving
- noun a paved surface having compressed layers of broken rocks held together with tar
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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Mam's voice travels over the tarmacadam ribbon, across the road and up the lane into Hollie's Plant Hire company.
Where's Me Dinner Woman? James Claffey 2011
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Their roots had escaped up through the tarmacadam in many places; covered by fallen leaves and the propellers of sycamore seeds, they tripped the unwary.
A Small Death in the Great Glen A. D. Scott 2010
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Apart from a few tufts of grass that had breached the pitted tarmacadam, the place looked devoid of life.
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We drain the marshland, pour acres upon acres of tarmacadam, divide land-migrating animals and low flying bats from their desired plots and hideouts, we remove habitat without realizing that is the greatest 'sin' against wildlife.
A taste of country life. Glyn Davies 2008
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The pre-vailing westerlies will banish that Saharan breeze and Belfast will become again the dour northern town of bricks, slate, and tarmacadam.
The Bloomsday Dead Adrian McKinty 2007
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But in fairness, the vision of the early comprehensives was that, by reason of their much greater size, they would be able to offer the full range of teaching, from A-level Latin and Greek at one end to tarmacadam studies at the other.
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After a moment, they vanished too – and we were descending fast through the palms, the pot-marked tarmacadam rising up to meet us, the sun incandescent, unforgiving.
Temptation Douglas Kennedy 2006
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And then, suddenly below us, was a circle of tarmacadam, with a large X in its centre.
Temptation Douglas Kennedy 2006
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After a moment, they vanished too – and we were descending fast through the palms, the pot-marked tarmacadam rising up to meet us, the sun incandescent, unforgiving.
Temptation Douglas Kennedy 2006
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And then, suddenly below us, was a circle of tarmacadam, with a large X in its centre.
Temptation Douglas Kennedy 2006
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The solution came with the addition of asphalt (a semi-solid form of petroleum also known as bitumen), to create a smooth, super-absorbent surface called tarmacadam.
These streets aren't made for walking: Why sidewalks need a rethink #author.fullName} 2021
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