Etymology 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”).
1
Substance consumed to provide energy through combustion, or through chemical or nuclear reaction.
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:
2
Substance that provides nourishment for a living organism; food.
A little fuel to get down the mountain.2021 February 16, Charlie Berens and DudeDad, The 5 People on the Ski Slopes:
3
Figuratively Something that stimulates, encourages or maintains an action.
His books were fuel for the revolution.
Money is the fuel for economy.
2 more examples
That film was nightmare fuel!
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:
Etymology 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”).
1
To provide with fuel.
[…] 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:
The workings now employ ten twin-units, which are fuelled at Hornsey but return to Cambridge diesel depot for their weekly maintenance; [...].1959 May, “Talking of Trains: By diesel m.u. to Moorgate”, in Trains Illustrated, page 235:
1 more example
"Well, we do need to keep some of it on hand, donchaknow. For fueling the cookfires and all that rot."2005, Harry Turtledove, Alternate Generals III, unnumbered page:
2
To exacerbate, to cause to grow or become greater.
There were times, during the first two years of the Biden presidency, when I came close to forgetting about it all: the taunts and the provocations; the incitements and the resentments; the disorchestrated reasoning; the verbal incontinence; the press conferences fueled by megalomania, vengeance, and a soupçon of hydroxychloroquine.2023 December 8, Jennifer Senior, “What Will Happen to the American Psyche If Trump Is Reelected?”, in The Atlantic: