[fu.el] n, often attrib [ME fewel, fr. OF fouaille, fr. (assumed) VL focalia, fr. L focus hearth] (13c) 1 a: a material used to produce heat or power by burning b: nutritive material c: a material from which atomic energy can be liberated esp. in a reactor
2: a source of sustenance or incentive: reinforcement
[2]fuel vb -eled or -elled ; -el.ing or -el.ling vt (1592) 1: to provide with fuel
2: support, stimulate "movement is ~ed by massive grants-in-aid --Allen Schick" ~ vi: to take in fuel--often used with up