fuel
/ˈfjuːəl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈfjuːəl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈfyü(-ə)l/ (ame, mw) · /ˈfjuː.əl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈfjuː.əl/ (ame, ipa)
fuel — noun
1. a substance such as coal, gas, or wood that people burn to create warmth and mak
a substance such as coal, gas, or wood that people burn to create warmth and make machines run.
The government announced a new tax on petrol and other fuels.
countable plural 'fuels' for different types
Haruto filled the car with fuel before the long drive to Kaohsiung.
uncountable: fuel as a mass substance
Wood was their main source of fuel for heating during the winter months.
Kwame checked the fuel gauge before beginning the long drive into the mountains.
- energy
broader term — fuel is a source of energy, but 'energy' can also come from the sun, wind, or movement
- power
focuses on the result fuel produces, not the substance itself
- petrol / gasoline
specific types of fuel used in cars; petrol is British, gasoline American
文法句型
fuel (uncountable) for general reference
fuels (countable plural) for different types
用法筆記
Fuel is usually uncountable when referring to the substance in general ('We ran out of fuel'). It becomes countable when listing types or sources ('alternative fuels', 'fossil fuels').
常見錯誤
2. anything that makes an emotion, an argument, or an activity continue or become m
anything that makes an emotion, an argument, or an activity continue or become more intense.
The newspaper article added fuel to the debate about school reform.
idiomatic phrase: 'add fuel to' meaning 'make stronger'
Adina's angry words were fuel for the argument between the two families.
pattern: 'be fuel for' + conflict
Social media can sometimes act as fuel for false rumours and public fear.
The leaked emails provided fuel for conspiracy theories about the election outcome.
- dampener
something that reduces enthusiasm or excitement
文法句型
fuel for + noun
add fuel to + noun
be fuel for + noun
用法筆記
Common in media and political contexts. The phrase 'add fuel to the fire/flames' is a fixed idiom meaning to make a bad situation worse. Often followed by 'for' + a conflict or emotion noun.
常見錯誤
fuel — verb
1. to put a substance such as petrol or gas into a vehicle, machine, or system so t
to put a substance such as petrol or gas into a vehicle, machine, or system so that it can operate.
The pilot fuelled the plane before the early morning flight to Tokyo.
transitive: fuel + vehicle
Piotr stopped at the petrol station to fuel up his scooter for the trip.
phrasal verb 'fuel up' (transitive with object)
The power station near Brighton is fuelled by natural gas from the North Sea.
Vikram fuelled the generator before the storm cut off the power supply.
- power
broader — 'power' can mean to supply with electricity or any energy; 'fuel' specifically involves a combustible substance
文法句型
fuel + vehicle/machine/system
fuel up (intransitive)
be fuelled by + source
用法筆記
Can be used transitively ('She fuelled the car') or intransitively with 'up' ('We stopped to fuel up'). The passive construction 'be fuelled by' is very common in descriptions of energy systems. Past tense can be spelled 'fuelled' (British) or 'fueled' (American).
常見錯誤
2. to make a feeling, situation, or type of behaviour stronger or more active.
to make a feeling, situation, or type of behaviour stronger or more active.
The coach's speech before the final match fuelled the team's determination to win.
transitive: fuel + positive abstract (determination)
Rising food prices have fuelled public anger towards the city government.
subject: prices/circumstances fuel + negative feeling
The discovery of gold in the valley fuelled dreams of sudden wealth among local families.
Kian's victory in the competition fuelled his ambition to become a professional musician.
文法句型
fuel + abstract noun (anger, fear, debate, speculation)
用法筆記
The subject is usually a situation, event, or piece of information — not a person ('The rumour fuelled anxiety', not 'He fuelled anxiety'). Can be positive (fuel ambition, fuel creativity) or negative (fuel anger, fuel conflict), though negative contexts are more common.