fuel

Từ điển Oxford Advanced Learner 8th

fuel [fuel fuels fuelled fueled fuelling fueling] noun, verb BrE [ˈfjuːəl] NAmE [ˈfjuːəl]
noun
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
2. uncountable a thing that is said or done that makes sth, 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 Origin:
Middle English: from Old French fouaille, based on Latin focus ‘hearth’ (in late Latin ‘fire’).

Thesaurus:
fuel noun U, C
•Fuel bills are set to rise again.
oil • • gas • • coal • • fossil fuel • • diesel • • petroleum • |BrE petrol • |AmE gasoline •
sth runs on (a particular kind of) fuel/oil/gas/diesel/petrol/gasoline
run out of fuel/oil/gas/diesel/petrol
fuel/oil/gas/coal/fossil fuel/diesel/petroleum/petrol/gasoline consumption

Example Bank:
•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.

 
verb (-ll-, US -l-)
1. transitive ~ sth to supply sth with material that can be burnt to produce heat or power
•Uranium is used to fuel nuclear plants.
•oil-fuelled power stations
2. transitive, intransitive ~ (sth) (up) to put petrol/gas into a vehicle
•The helicopter was already fuelled (up) and ready to go.
3. transitive ~ sth to increase sth; to make sth stronger
Syn: ↑stoke
•to fuel speculation/rumours/fears
•Higher salaries helped to fuel inflation.
Verb forms:

Word Origin:
Middle English: from Old French fouaille, based on Latin focus ‘hearth’ (in late Latin ‘fire’).

Example Bank:
•Crime is soaring fuelled by an influx of drugs.
•Higher oil prices helped to fuel inflation.
•His absence has fuelled rumours of a split within the party.
•The consumer boom had been fuelled by a credit-led economy.
•Yesterday's meeting is likely to fuel further speculation about a takeover.