fuel

Everyday

1. Fuel is something that is burned to make heat or power, like petrol, gas, coal or wood. tree →
2. Food is fuel for your body because it gives you energy. tree →
3. To fuel something means to give it fuel, or to make a feeling or situation stronger. tree →

In the lessons

In science, fuels store energy; burning them releases heat and light. Fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas) took millions of years to form and will run out, and burning them adds carbon dioxide to the air; renewable energy like solar and wind does not need fuel. Cars use petrol (UK) or gas/gasoline (US), or diesel. In safety, fuels catch fire easily; keep them away from flames and children. In health, food is fuel: a good breakfast fuels your morning.

Examples

• Cars need fuel to go. tree →
• Coal, oil and gas are fossil fuels. tree →
• Wood is a fuel for the campfire. tree →
• Food is fuel for your body. tree →
• We stopped to buy fuel at the petrol station. tree →
• Keep fuel away from flames. tree →
• His unkind words fuelled the argument. tree →
• Then go and get fuel and light a fire.’ tree →

Note

Usually uncountable (fuel), but «fuels» for kinds. British «fuelled, fuelling» (double l), American «fueled, fueling». Oxygen is needed for fuel to burn, but oxygen is not a fuel. «Add fuel to the fire» = make a bad situation worse.

In Jewish tradition

Here it means wood or other things burned; it is used as a picture of people destroyed by God's anger. In the primary lessons: In science, fuels store energy; burning them releases heat and light. Fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas) took millions of years to form and will run out, and burning them adds carbon dioxide to the air; renewable energy like solar and wind does not need fuel. Cars use petrol (UK) or gas/gasoline (US), or diesel. In safety, fuels catch fire easily; keep them away from flames and children. In health, food is fuel: a good breakfast fuels your morning.

Examples

• And Lebanon is not sufficient fuel, nor the beasts thereof sufficient for burnt-offerings. (Prophets ISA.40.16, JPS 1917) tree →
• For every boot stamped with fierceness, and every cloak rolled in blood, shall even be for burning, for fuel of fire. (Prophets ISA.9.4, JPS 1917) tree →
• Through the wrath of the LORD of hosts is the land burnt up; the people also are as the fuel of fire; no man spareth his brother. (Prophets ISA.9.18, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Usually uncountable (fuel), but «fuels» for kinds. British «fuelled, fuelling» (double l), American «fueled, fueling». Oxygen is needed for fuel to burn, but oxygen is not a fuel. «Add fuel to the fire» = make a bad situation worse.