From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishfuelfu‧el1 /ˈfjuːəl/ ●●● S3 W2 noun [countable, uncountable]HEG a substance such as coal, gas, or oil that can be burned to produce heat or energy Coal is one of the cheapest fuels. → add fuel to the fire/flames at add(9)COLLOCATIONSADJECTIVES/NOUN + fuela fossil fuel (=a fuel such as coal or oil, produced by the gradual decaying of plants and animals)Global warming may be caused by burning fossil fuels.nuclear fuelWhat do we do with the spent nuclear fuel?solid fuel (=a solid substance, such as coal, that is used as a fuel)The number of homes using solid fuel for heating has decreased.domestic/household fuel (=used in a house)There has been a sharp rise in domestic fuel costs.smokeless fuel (=that burns without producing smoke)The government is trying to encourage the use of environmentally-friendly smokeless fuels.unleaded fuel (=that does not contain lead)Modern cars run on unleaded fuel.a green fuel (=a fuel that harms the environment as little as possible)Are green fuels, like Biodiesel, really the solution to our fuel crisis?a clean fuel (=fuel that does not harm the environment)The proposal is to cut tax on cars that run on clean fuel.aviation fuel (=used used by planes)high-octane aviation fuelverbsuse fuelPeople need to learn how to use fuel more efficiently.run on fuel (=use fuel as the source of power)Will this engine run on unleaded fuel?run out of fuel (=use all the fuel available and have none left)The ship ran out of fuel and drifted helplessly.fill up with fuel (=put fuel in a vehicle's fuel tank)Before leaving, I filled up with fuel at the local petrol station.save fuelYou can save fuel by not driving too fast.waste fuelThe booklet gives helpful tips on how to avoid wasting fuel.fuel + NOUNfuel costs/pricesThe increase in fuel costs is severely affecting pensioners.a fuel billInsulating your house will cut your fuel bill.a fuel tank (=a container for storing fuel)The fuel tank holds 14 gallons of petrol.a fuel gauge (=an instrument for measuring fuel)I noticed the fuel gauge was on empty so I pulled into the nearest gas station.a fuel pump (=a machine that forces fuel into an engine)The car's fuel pump was leaking.fuel consumption (=amount used)Fuel consumption averages 54 miles per gallon.fuel economy/efficiency (=how well a vehicle uses fuel, without wasting any)Greater engine efficiency has led to improved fuel economy.phrasessomething is running low on fuel (=it does not have much fuel left)The plane was running low on fuel.
Examples from the Corpus
fuel• Such anaerobic respiration is much quicker than aerobic respiration, but also much less efficient in terms of energy produced per unit of fuel.• Officials said they began pumping fuel from the barge before noon Sunday at a rate of 240,000 gallons an hour.• The fuel tank holds 14 gallons.fuelfuel2 ●○○ verb (fuelled, fuelling British English, fueled, fueling American English) 1 [transitive]INCREASE IN ACTIVITY, FEELINGS ETC to make something, especially something bad, increase or become stronger SYN provoke His words fuelled her anger still more.fuel speculation/rumours/controversy etc Progress was slow, fueling concerns that the stadium would not be finished on time.2 (also fuel up) [intransitive, transitive] if you fuel a vehicle, or if it fuels up, fuel is put into it SYN fill up We’d better fuel up at the next town. The van was fuelled and waiting in the basement car park.→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
fuel• There are growing fears for the safety of the kidnap victims -- fears that have been fuelled by rumours of new terrorist threats.• Proving Koch's postulates would of course be unethical and controversy is fuelled by this lack of scientific certainty.• Rising expectations about the standards of health can therefore be seen as fuelling further demand for health care.• Though Centralism comes in many guises and applications, the basic notions that fuel it are remarkably consistent-as are the results.• They have, throughout their exiles, sent us money and resources to help us fuel our movement.• The President's absence from the May Day parade has fuelled speculation that he is seriously ill.• Then on Wednesday night he forecast that interest rates would drop - fuelling the City boom.• Easy credit terms helped fuel the economic expansion.• After dropping off tanks of liquid oxygen to fuel the next ship, you re-enter the atmosphere.• Workers began fueling the spaceship for liftoff.• Unfortunately, the very psychiatric definition of identity that helped fuel this affirming development also helped fuel a rising prejudice against gays.fuel speculation/rumours/controversy etc• His criticism will fuel controversy about the book on the island, where a film starring Nicolas Cage is being shot.• The move will fuel speculation about the line-up of next year's Williams team.• The logical impenetrability of the administration's calculations at Camp David inevitably fuels speculation about the motivation for convening it.• Two unresolved issues fuel speculation that he might not receive a fair trial.• His absence has fuelled rumours that the house of Lacroix is about to be closed by owner and financial backer Bernard Arnault.From Longman Business Dictionaryfuelfu‧el1 /ˈfjuːəl/ noun [countable, uncountable]TRANSPORTMANUFACTURING a substance such as coal, gas, or oil that can be burned to produce heat or energyfuel pricesThe Postal Service lost $450 million last year, primarily because of higher labor and fuel costs.fuelfuel2 verb (fuelled, fuelling British English, fueled, fueling) American English [transitive] to cause a situation to change quicklyConsumers will continue to fuel economic growth.→ See Verb tableOrigin fuel1 (1100-1200) Old French fouaille, from feu “fire”, from Latin focus; → FOCUS1 