ðə fˈɜːst jˈuːs ʌv ˈæsfɔlt baɪ ðɪ ˈeɪntʃənts wʌz æz ɐ sᵻmˈɛnt tə sᵻkjˈʊɹ ɔːɹ dʒˈɔɪn vˈɛɹiəs ˈɑːbdʒɛkts, ænd ɪt ðˈʌs sˈiːmz lˈaɪkli ðætðə nˈeɪm ɪtsˈɛlf wʌz ɛkspɹˈɛsɪv ʌv ðɪs ˌæplɪkˈeɪʃən.
The first use of asphalt by the ancients was as a cement to secure or join various objects, and it thus seems likely that the name itself was expressive of this application.