n.
- material such as coal, gas, or oil that is burned to produce heat or power.
▸food, drink, or drugs as a source of energy.
- something that acts to sustain or inflame passion, argument, or other intense emotion.
v.
(fuels, fuelling, fuelled; US fuels, fueling, fueled)
- supply or power with fuel.
- sustain or inflame:
his lacklustre performance fuelled speculation about his future as leader.
Etymology
ME: from OFr. fouaille, based on L. focus ‘hearth’ (in late L. ‘fire’).