Tarmac

The second edition of The Dictionary of Urbanism by Rob Cowan, published in 2020, suggests that tarmac can mean:

• ‘A generic name for asphalt surfaces.’
• ‘A patented type of road-surfacing material composed mainly of compacted tar and aggregate. The word is a shortening of tarmacadam, a word combining tar- with the name of the engineer and road-builder John McAdam (1756–1836), who invented a process for building roads with a smooth, hard surface (macadam).’

It suggests that macadam can refer to:

• ‘A type of road construction with a smooth, hard surface, in which layers of compacted, crushed stone are bound with stone dust . It was pioneered by the engineer and road-builder John McAdam (1756–1836).’ Also referred to as stone macadam.
• ‘A similar type of road construction but with the addition of tar as a binder.’ Also referred to as bitumen macadam (bitmac).

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki

• Asphalt.
• Bituminous mixing and laying plant.
• Britain's historic paving.
• Coal holes, pavement lights, kerbs and utilities and wood-block paving.
• Glossary of paving terms.
• Code of Practice for Ironwork Systems Installation and Refurbishment.
• Hazard warning surfaces.
• Highway.
• Highway drainage.
• How to lay block paving.
• Pavement.
• Permeable pavements.
• Pervious bitmac.
• Road paving.
• Types of road and street.