hazel

¹ American  

[hey-zuhl] / ˈheɪ zəl /

noun

1. any shrub or small tree belonging to the genus Corylus, of the birch family, having toothed, ovate leaves and bearing edible nuts, as C. avellana, of Europe, or C. americana and C. cornuta, of the Western Hemisphere.

2. any of several other shrubs or trees, as an Australian shrub, Pomaderris apetala.

3. the wood of any of these trees.

4. the hazelnut or filbert.

5. light golden brown, as the color of a hazelnut.

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adjective

1. of or relating to the hazel.

2. made of the wood of the hazel.

3. having a light golden-brown color.

Hazel ² American  

[hey-zuhl] / ˈheɪ zəl /

noun

1. a female given name.

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hazel British  

/ ˈheɪzəl /

noun

1. Also called: cob.  any of several shrubs of the N temperate genus Corylus, esp C. avellana, having oval serrated leaves and edible rounded brown nuts: family Corylaceae

2. the wood of any of these trees

3. short for hazelnut

4. 1. a light yellowish-brown colour

   2. ( as adjective )

      hazel eyes

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Usage

What color are hazel eyes? Opinions vary on what, exactly, constitutes hazel eyes. Some consider them to be any shade with light brown or gold tones; others think they are a variation of brown eyes, only with more green or gold in the iris.

Other Word Forms

• hazelly adjective

Etymology

Origin of hazel

before 900; Middle English hasel; Old English hæs ( e ) l; cognate with German Hasel, Old Norse hasl, Latin corylus hazel shrub

Example Sentences

Her light brown cheeks are dotted with freckles, just under her vigilant hazel eyes.

From Literature

The holly, blackthorn, hazel and other native species provide corridors for wildlife as well as absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as they grow.

From BBC

For years, it was easy to forget that we used to be a woodland nation: around 6,000 years ago untouched swathes of oak, hazel, birch and pine blanketed an estimated 75% of the UK.

From BBC

It has been trying to restore the woodlands by introducing downy birch, sessile oak, hazel, willow, aspen and alder as well as endangered tree species such as Arran whitebeam.

From BBC

With dark blond hair and hazel eyes, Denise had a youthful beauty and hid her tough circumstances under a devil-may-care attitude.

From Los Angeles Times