macadam

Meaning

Noun

1. (uncountable) The surface of a road consisting of layers of crushed stone (usually tar-coated for modern traffic).
2. (US, countable, dated) Any road or street.

Verb

To cover or surface with macadam.

Synonyms

tarmacadam

blacktop

tarmac

crushed rock

macadam road

road metal

spall

blacktopping

road-metal

pit-run gravel

asphalt pavement

asphalt

reduced stone

ballast

bitumen

broken stone

Translations

macadam

Makadam

macadam

macadam

macadam

macadam

macadán

şose

asfalto

s

macadame

makadam

asfalto

Pronounced as (IPA)

/məˈkædəm/

Etymology

Named after Scottish engineer John Loudon McAdam (1756–1836), who invented the process of macadamization. Used for describing road surfaces originally constructed using the McAdam method, but now sometimes used for any road or street.