fuel

[ fyoo-uhl ]
See synonyms for: fuelfueledfuelingfuelled on Thesaurus.com

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.

  1. an energy source for engines, power plants, or reactors: Kerosene is used as jet engine fuel.

  2. something that sustains or encourages; stimulant: Our discussion provided him with fuel for debate.

verb (used with object),fu·eled, fu·el·ing or (especially British) fu·elled, fu·el·ling.
  1. to supply with fuel.

verb (used without object),fu·eled, fu·el·ing or (especially British) fu·elled, fu·el·ling.
  1. to obtain or replenish fuel.

Origin of fuel

1
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English feuel, fuel(le), from Old French feuaile, from Vulgar Latin focālia (unrecorded), neuter plural of focālis (unrecorded) “of the hearth, fuel,” from Latin focus “hearth” (see focus) + -ālis -al1

Other words for fuel

Other words from fuel

  • fu·el·er; (especially British) fu·el·ler, noun
  • de·fu·el, verb (used with object), de·fu·eled, de·fu·el·ing or (especially British) de·fu·elled, de·fu·el·ling.
  • non·fu·el, adjective
  • un·fu·eled; (especially British) un·fu·elled, adjective
  • well-fueled; (especially British) well-fuelled, adjective

Words Nearby fuel

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use fuel in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for fuel

fuel

/ (fjʊəl) /


noun
  1. any substance burned as a source of heat or power, such as coal or petrol

    • the material, containing a fissile substance, such as uranium-235, that produces energy in a nuclear reactor

    • a substance that releases energy in a fusion reactor

  1. something that nourishes or builds up emotion, action, etc

verbfuels, fuelling or fuelled or US fuels, fueling or fueled
  1. to supply with or receive fuel

Origin of fuel

1
C14: from Old French feuaile, from feu fire, ultimately from Latin focus fireplace, hearth

Derived forms of fuel

  • fueller or US fueler, noun

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

Scientific definitions for fuel

fuel

[ fyōōəl ]


  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.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Other Idioms and Phrases with fuel

fuel

see add fuel to the fire.

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