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fuel

 - 5 dictionary results

fu⋅el

[fyoo-uhl] noun, verb, -eled, -el⋅ing or (especially British) -elled, -el⋅ling.
–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.
–verb (used with object)
5. to supply with fuel.
–verb (used without object)
6. to obtain or replenish fuel.

Origin:
1300–50; ME fuel(le), feuel < OF feuaile < VL *focālia, neut. pl. of *focālis of the hearth, fuel. See focus, -al 1


fu⋅el⋅er, fu⋅el⋅ler, noun


4. ammunition, sustenance, impetus, stimulus.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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fu·el   (fyōō'əl)   
n.  
  1. Something consumed to produce energy, especially:

    1. A material such as wood, coal, gas, or oil burned to produce heat or power.

    2. Fissionable material used in a nuclear reactor.

    3. Nutritive material metabolized by a living organism; food.

  2. Something that maintains or stimulates an activity or emotion: "Money is the fuel of a volunteer organization" (Natalie de Combray).

v.   fu·eled also fu·elled, fu·el·ing also fu·el·ling, fu·els also fu·els

v.   tr.
  1. To provide with fuel.

  2. To support or stimulate the activity or existence of: rhetoric that fueled the dissenters.

v.   intr.
To take in fuel.

[Middle English feuel, from Old French fouaille, feuaile, from Vulgar Latin *focālia, neuter pl. of *focālis, of the hearth or fireplace, from Latin focus, hearth, fireplace.]
fu'el·er n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

fuel  (n.)
c.1300, from O.Fr. feuaile "bundle of firewood," from M.L. legal term *focalia "right to demand material for making fire," neut. pl. of L. focus "hearth."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Bible Dictionary

Fuel

Almost every kind of combustible matter was used for fuel, such as the withered stalks of herbs (Matt. 6:30), thorns (Ps. 58:9; Eccl. 7:6), animal excrements (Ezek. 4:12-15; 15:4, 6; 21:32). Wood or charcoal is much used still in all the towns of Syria and Egypt. It is largely brought from the region of Hebron to Jerusalem. (See COAL.)

Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary
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Idioms & Phrases

fuel

see add fuel to the fire.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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