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

The missile, named after the Russian word for hazel tree, was first fired on the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro in 2024.

From Barron's • Jan. 9, 2026

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 • Apr. 28, 2025

She’s a natural beauty, with her long, sandy blond hair partially tied back accentuating her soulful hazel eyes and infectious smile.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 17, 2024

She has beautiful hazel eyes and long eyelashes, but they’re wide open, barely blinking as she breathes heavily into an oxygen mask that covers most of her little face.

From BBC • Sep. 9, 2024

His pupils had dilated in the lamplight, absorbing the hazel of the iris.

From "Educated" by Tara Westover