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View synonyms for

fuel

[ fyoo-uhl ]

noun

  1. combustible matter used to maintain fire, as coal, wood, oil, or gas, in order to create heat or power.
  2. something that gives nourishment; food.
  3. an energy source for engines, power plants, or reactors:

    Kerosene is used as jet engine fuel.

  4. something that sustains or encourages; stimulant:

    Our discussion provided him with fuel for debate.

    Synonyms: , , ,



verb (used with object)

fueled, fueling or (especially British) fuelled, fuelling.
  1. to supply with fuel.

verb (used without object)

fueled, fueling or (especially British) fuelled, fuelling.
  1. to obtain or replenish fuel.

fuel

/ ʊə /

noun

  1. any substance burned as a source of heat or power, such as coal or petrol
    1. the material, containing a fissile substance, such as uranium-235, that produces energy in a nuclear reactor
    2. a substance that releases energy in a fusion reactor
  2. something that nourishes or builds up emotion, action, etc
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. to supply with or receive fuel
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

fuel

  1. A substance that produces useful energy when it undergoes a chemical or nuclear reaction. Fuel such as coal, wood, oil, or gas provides energy when burned. Compounds in the body such as glucose are broken down into simpler compounds to provide energy for metabolic processes. Some radioactive substances, such as plutonium and tritium, provide energy by undergoing nuclear fission or fusion.
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Derived Forms

  • ˈڳܱ, noun
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Other Word Forms

  • ڳı· (especially British) ڳı· noun
  • ·ڳı verb (used with object) defueled defueling or (especially British) defuelled defuelling
  • ԴDz·ڳı adjective
  • ܲ·ڳı (especially British) ܲ·ڳı adjective
  • ɱ-ڳı (especially British) ɱ-ڳı adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of fuel1

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English feuel, fuel(le), from Old French feuaile, from Vulgar Latin ڴdz (unrecorded), neuter plural of ڴdz (unrecorded) “of the hearth, fuel,” from Latin focus “hearth” ( focus ) + - -al 1
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Word History and Origins

Origin of fuel1

C14: from Old French feuaile , from feu fire, ultimately from Latin focus fireplace, hearth
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Idioms and Phrases

see add fuel to the fire .
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

“The motivations are clearly to privilege fossil fuel interests over the interests of the public. This report is entirely in the public interest, and they’re just trying to bury the facts.”

From

Sir Tony Blair has called for a major rethink of net zero policies, arguing that limiting energy consumption and fossil fuel production is "doomed to fail".

From

Renewable power has different challenges to fossil fuel energy "because of its intermittency", she said, but it is a well-known issue that is planned for.

From

Israel has also blocked all deliveries of humanitarian aid and other supplies to Gaza since 2 March, which the UN says has caused severe shortages of food, medicine and fuel.

From

One of his first moves as PM, before the election, was to repeal Trudeau's unpopular carbon pricing programme, which was designed to give financial incentives for people and firms to turn away from fossil fuels.

From

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Related Words

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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Fuegianfuel air bomb