fuel

Meanings

Noun

• Substance consumed to provide energy through combustion, or through chemical or nuclear reaction.
• Substance that provides nourishment for a living organism; food.
• Something that stimulates, encourages or maintains an action.

Verb

• To provide with fuel.
• To exacerbate, to cause to grow or become greater.

Origin

• From Middle English fewell, from Old French fouaille, feuaille, from feu. Cognate with Spanish fuego ("fire").