biofuel

/ˈbaɪoʊˌfyuəl/

Other forms: biofuels

Biofuel is organic material that's burned to create energy. Wood is considered a biofuel, and so is ethanol, which is made from corn.

Fuel that comes from living matter is categorized as biofuel, often to distinguish it from fossil fuels. Anything that was once part of a plant, animal, or algae, which is burned to create energy, is biofuel. While it's considered to be renewable and cleaner than oil or gas, biofuel is criticized for the environmental impact of refining it (turning corn into ethanol, for example), and the emissions created from burning it. Biofuel was coined in the 1980s.

Definitions of biofuel

1. noun

   a renewable energy source derived from organic matter