fuel
♦♦ fuel /fj'uːəl/ (fuels fuelling fuelled)
in AM, use fueling, fueled
1 [N-MASS]
Fuel is a substance such as coal, oil, or petrol that is burned to provide heat or power.
They ran out of fuel.
...industrial research into cleaner fuels.
2 [VERB] V n, be V-ed
To fuel a situation means to make it become worse or more intense.
The result will inevitably fuel speculation about the Prime Minister's future...
The economic boom was fueled by easy credit.
= feed
3 [PHRASE] V inflects
If something adds fuel to a conflict or debate, or adds fuel to the fire, it makes the conflict or debate more intense.
His comments are bound to add fuel to the debate...
The decision to raise tariffs on imports will only add fuel to the fire.fos|sil fuel (fossil fuels)
also fossil-fuel
[N-MASS]
Fossil fuel is fuel such as coal or oil that is formed from the decayed remains of plants or animals.fuel in|jec|tion
[N-UNCOUNT]
Fuel injection is a system in the engines of some vehicles which forces fuel directly into the part of the engine where it is burned.fuel rod (fuel rods)
[N-COUNT]
Fuel rods are metal tubes containing nuclear fuel. They are used in some nuclear reactors.nu|clear fuel (nuclear fuels)
[N-VAR]
Nuclear fuel is fuel that provides nuclear energy, for example in power stations.sol|id fuel (solid fuels)
[N-MASS]
Solid fuel is fuel such as coal or wood, that is solid rather than liquid or gas. (BRIT)
in AM, use fueling, fueled
1 [N-MASS]
Fuel is a substance such as coal, oil, or petrol that is burned to provide heat or power.
They ran out of fuel.
...industrial research into cleaner fuels.
2 [VERB] V n, be V-ed
To fuel a situation means to make it become worse or more intense.
The result will inevitably fuel speculation about the Prime Minister's future...
The economic boom was fueled by easy credit.
= feed
3 [PHRASE] V inflects
If something adds fuel to a conflict or debate, or adds fuel to the fire, it makes the conflict or debate more intense.
His comments are bound to add fuel to the debate...
The decision to raise tariffs on imports will only add fuel to the fire.fos|sil fuel (fossil fuels)
also fossil-fuel
[N-MASS]
Fossil fuel is fuel such as coal or oil that is formed from the decayed remains of plants or animals.fuel in|jec|tion
[N-UNCOUNT]
Fuel injection is a system in the engines of some vehicles which forces fuel directly into the part of the engine where it is burned.fuel rod (fuel rods)
[N-COUNT]
Fuel rods are metal tubes containing nuclear fuel. They are used in some nuclear reactors.nu|clear fuel (nuclear fuels)
[N-VAR]
Nuclear fuel is fuel that provides nuclear energy, for example in power stations.sol|id fuel (solid fuels)
[N-MASS]
Solid fuel is fuel such as coal or wood, that is solid rather than liquid or gas. (BRIT)