Fuel Meaning
/ˈfjuːəl/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounSubstance consumed to provide energy through combustion, or through chemical or nuclear reaction.
nounSubstance that provides nourishment for a living organism; food.
Sentence Examples
Don't shout at the crying child. It only adds fuel to the fire.
The cost of flying overseas has risen with the cost of fuel.
Uranium is used to fuel nuclear plants.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
The car ran out of gas, so we had to buy more ____ to continue our trip.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The car's engine requires high-quality ____ to run efficiently and avoid any mechanical problems.
Word Origin & History
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”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"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:
"In a press release, CARB expanded on their decision. "The LCFS reduces air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions by setting a declining carbon intensity target for transportation fuels used in California; producers that don't meet established benchmarks buy credits from those that do. This system has generated $4 billion in annual private sector investment toward a cleaner transportation sector.""
— 2024 November 8, Luz Pena, “California's gas prices could have major increase with passing of new fuel standards”, in ABC7 News:
"A little fuel to get down the mountain."
— 2021 February 16, Charlie Berens and DudeDad, The 5 People on the Ski Slopes:
"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:
"[…] 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."
— 1957, Neville Shute, chapter 2, in On the Beach, New York: William Morrow & Co:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The car ran out of gas, so we had to buy more ____ to continue our trip.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The car's engine requires high-quality ____ to run efficiently and avoid any mechanical problems.