1. The splitting of a film of paint in a pattern resembling an alligator skin, caused by shrinkage of a coat of paint applied over a semiplastic or thermoplastic undercoat; also called crocodiling.
2. Surface cracking, due to oxidation and shrinkage stresses, which shows as repetitive mounding of an asphalt surface in a pattern resembling the hide of an alligator;
occurs only in unsurfaced bitumen exposed to the weather.