FUEL

fuel

(noun) a substance that can be consumed to produce energy; “more fuel is needed during the winter months”; “they developed alternative fuels for aircraft”

fuel

(verb) stimulate; “fuel the debate on creationism”

fuel

(verb) take in fuel, as of a ship; “The tanker fueled in Bahrain”

fuel

(verb) provide with a combustible substance that provides energy; “fuel aircraft, ships, and cars”

fuel, fire

(verb) provide with fuel; “Oil fires the furnace”

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Noun

fuel (countable and uncountable, plural fuels)

Substance consumed to provide energy through combustion, or through chemical or nuclear reaction.

Substance that provides nourishment for a living organism; food.

(figuratively) Something that stimulates, encourages or maintains an action.

Verb

fuel (third-person singular simple present fuels, present participle fuelling or (US) fueling, simple past and past participle fuelled or (US) fueled)

To provide with fuel.

To exacerbate, to cause to grow or become greater.

Usage notes

Fuelled and fuelling are British, Australian, New Zealand, and Canadian spellings. Fueled and fueling are U.S. spellings.

Anagrams

• flue, fule

Source: Wiktionary


Fu"el, n. Etym: [OF. fouail, fuail, or fouaille, fuaille, LL. focalium, focale, fr. L. focus hearth, fireplace, in LL., fire. See Focus.] [Formerly written also fewel.]

1. Any matter used to produce heat by burning; that which feeds fire; combustible matter used for fires, as wood, coal, peat, etc.

2. Anything that serves to feed or increase passion or excitement. Artificial fuel, fuel consisting of small particles, as coal dust, sawdust, etc., consolidated into lumps or blocks.

Fu"el, v. t.

1. To feed with fuel. [Obs.] Never, alas I the dreadful name, That fuels the infernal flame. Cowley.

2. To store or furnish with fuel or firing. [Obs.] Well watered and well fueled. Sir H. Wotton.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



RESET




Word of the Day

29 May 2025

CRITICAL

(adjective) characterized by careful evaluation and judgment; “a critical reading”; “a critical dissertation”; “a critical analysis of Melville’s writings”


coffee icon

Coffee Trivia

According to Guinness World Records, on 25 September 2016, the Birla Institute of Management Technology (India) in Uttar Pradesh, India, constructed the largest coffee cups pyramid consisting of 23,821 cups. They used paper takeaway coffee cups to build the pyramid.

coffee icon