fuel

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a substance that can be consumed to produce energy

   more fuel is needed during the winter months

2. 2
   verb

   stimulate

   fuel the debate on creationism

3. 3
   verb

   take in fuel, as of a ship

   The tanker fueled in Bahrain

4. 4
   verb

   provide with a combustible substance that provides energy

   fuel aircraft, ships, and cars

5. 5
   noun

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

   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.

6. 6
   noun

   Substance that provides nourishment for a living organism; food.

   A little fuel to get down the mountain.

7. 7
   noun

   Something that stimulates, encourages or maintains an action.

   His books were fuel for the revolution.

8. 8
   verb

   To provide with fuel.

   […] Lieutenant Hirsch appeared with a sheaf of signals in his hand. He took these from the young man and read them through. Mostly they dealt with routine matters of the fuelling and victualling, but one from the Third Naval Member’s office was unexpected.

Etymology

From Middle English fuayle, from Old French fouaille, feuaille (“firewood, kindling”), from feu (“fire”), from Late Latin focus (“fire”), from Latin focus (“hearth”), whence English focus. Cognate with Spanish fuego (“fire”), and Portuguese fogo (“fire”).