The AI-powered English dictionary
countable and uncountable, plural fuels
Substance consumed to provide energy through combustion, or through chemical or nuclear reaction. quotations examples
More than a mere source of Promethean sustenance to thwart the cold and cook one's meat, wood was quite simply mankind's first industrial and manufacturing fuel.
2006, Edwin Black, chapter 2, in Internal Combustion
Substance that provides nourishment for a living organism; food. examples
(figuratively) Something that stimulates, encourages or maintains an action. quotations examples
Small arms ammunition is the fuel that keeps many of the world’s conflicts raging.
2006 June 15, “Ammunition: the fuel of conflict”, in Oxfam International
third-person singular simple present fuels, present participle (US) fueling or fuelling, simple past and past participle (US) fueled or fuelled
To provide with fuel. quotations examples
The workings now employ ten twin-units, which are fuelled at Hornsey but return to Cambridge diesel depot for their weekly maintenance; [...].
1959 May, “Talking of Trains: By diesel m.u. to Moorgate”, in Trains Illustrated, page 235
To exacerbate, to cause to grow or become greater. examples