refuel
Definition
Verb (transitive):
- To supply a vehicle, aircraft, or ship with more fuel.
- To provide something with additional fuel or energy.
Verb (intransitive):
- To take on more fuel. This describes the action performed by the vehicle, aircraft, or ship itself.
Usage
- The verb refuel is used to describe the process of adding fuel to a machine or system so it can continue operating. It often implies a stop during a journey for this purpose.
- It can be used both with an object (transitive: to refuel ) and without an object (intransitive: the vehicle will refuel).
Examples
- Transitive use:
- The pilot decided to refuel the aircraft before the long transatlantic flight.
- We need to refuel the car at the next service station.
- Intransitive use:
- The ship will dock in Singapore to refuel.
- After six hours in the air, the jet had to land and refuel.
Advanced Usage
- Figurative Use: Refuel can be used metaphorically to mean to regain energy or resources.
- The team took a short break to refuel with coffee and snacks before continuing the meeting.
- The inspiring speech refueled her passion for the project.
Variants and Related Words
- Refueling (noun, US spelling) / Refuelling (noun, UK spelling): The action or process of taking on more fuel.
- Mid-air refueling is a complex maneuver.
- Refueler (noun): A person or vehicle that supplies fuel.
- The airport refueler approached the plane.
Synonyms
- Fuel up: (informal) To fill a vehicle's tank with fuel.
- Replenish: To fill something up again (more general, can apply to supplies other than fuel).
Phrasal Verbs
- Refuel is typically not used as part of a phrasal verb. The action is generally expressed by the single verb refuel.
Related Idioms
- While there is no specific idiom with refuel, the concept is present in expressions like:
- To stop for gas/petrol: The common, informal way to express the idea of refueling a car.
Verb
-
take on more fuel, as of a plane, ship, or car
-
provide with additional fuel, as of aircraft, ships, and cars
