fuel indicator
- noun
- The fuel indicator shows how much gas is left.
Examples
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When the fuel indicator reaches the red zone, it's time to refuel.
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Always check the fuel indicator before starting a long drive.
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The fuel indicator showed that the tank was nearly empty.
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Can you check the fuel indicator before we leave?
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The fuel indicator showed that he had only a quarter tank left.
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Before starting the long journey, she checked the fuel indicator to ensure there was enough gas.
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When the fuel indicator turned red, he knew it was time to stop for gas.
Synonyms
A device that shows the condition of a machine or system
A device that shows how much fuel is left in a car's tank
A device in a vehicle that shows how much fuel is left
A device in a vehicle that shows how much fuel is left in the tank
A device in a car that shows how much petrol is left
A device in a car that shows how much gas is left
A device that shows how much fuel is left in a car's tank
Surface Forms
Morphology
The compound combines two literal nouns where 'indicator' denotes an instrument and 'fuel' specifies what it monitors, so the meaning 'a device that shows the amount of fuel' is directly derivable. This is a standard noun–noun composition found cross-linguistically and would be clear to a B1 learner who knows both constituent words.
Etymology
Fuel indicator comes from its two parts: fuel (what it measures) and indicator (what shows or points). Imagine a small dial with a needle moving toward a red 'empty' area — it literally 'shows how much fuel is left', so the name means 'a device that tells you when to refuel'.