fuel

The word “fuel” means a substance burned or used to produce energy, such as gasoline, coal, or wood. In plain terms, something burned for energy, or, as a verb, to supply energy or to intensify a situation.

“Fuel” is pronounced FYOO-uhl ([ˈfjuwəɫ] in IPA).

Here is “fuel” used in a sentence: “The car ran out of fuel on the motorway.”

Depending on how it is used, “fuel” can be a noun and a verb.

The word “fuel” comes from Latin. From Old French fouaille, "firewood," from Latin focus, "hearth" — the same root that gave English focus.

“Fuel” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

“Fuel” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a substance burned or used to produce energy, such as gasoline, coal, or wood.

Fuels are often grouped by state and source. By state there are solid fuels like coal and wood, liquid fuels like petrol and diesel, and gas fuels like natural gas. By source there are fossil fuels, biofuels made from plants, and nuclear fuel. Each stores energy that is released, usually by burning.

Fuel is the substance that stores energy — coal, petrol, wood, gas. Energy is what is released when that fuel is burned or converted, appearing as heat, light, or motion. Put simply, fuel is the source and energy is the result. You burn fuel to release the energy locked inside it.

Not strictly. Electricity is usually described as an energy carrier rather than a fuel, because it is generated from other sources — coal, gas, nuclear, wind, or solar — and then delivered for use. Fuel is the raw substance that stores energy; electricity is the useful form that energy is often turned into.

Everyday fuels include petrol and diesel for cars, natural gas for heating and cooking, coal for power stations, and wood or charcoal for fires. Aircraft burn jet fuel, and rockets use specialised propellants. In each case, the fuel is burned or converted to release the energy stored within it.