- 1 [uncountable, countable] any material that produces heat or power, usually when it is burnt solid fuel (= wood, coal, etc.) nuclear fuels a car with high fuel consumption Domestic fuel bills are set to rise again in the autumn. see also fossil fuel Wordfinderenergyenergy, fossil fuel, fracking, fuel, hydroelectric, nuclear, oil, power station, solar, wind farm Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectiveclean, smokeless, unleaded, … verb + fuelburn, consume, run on, … fuel + nounbill, costs, prices, … See full entry
- 2[uncountable] a thing that is said or done that makes something, especially an argument, continue or get worse The new information adds fuel to the debate over safety procedures. The revelations gave new fuel to angry opponents of the proposed law. His remarks simply added fuel to the fire/flames of her rage. Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French fouaille, based on Latin focus ‘hearth’ (in late Latin ‘fire’).Extra examples The plant reprocesses spent fuel from nuclear power stations. The power plant burns sugar cane as fuel. The power plant burns used vehicle tyres as fuel. What sort of fuel does the car run on? a car with high fuel consumption power stations which burn fossil fuels A tax on carbon-producing fuels such as coal and oil was proposed. Domestic fuel bills are set to rise again this winter. It will be necessary to reduce fuel consumption by 15%. Make sure you don’t run out of fuel. Most of the houses are heated with solid fuel.
Check pronunciation: fuel
