hazel

1 of 2

noun

ha·​zel ˈhā-zəl 

1

: any of a genus (Corylus and especially the American C. americana and the European C. avellana) of shrubs or small trees of the birch family bearing nuts enclosed in a leafy involucre

2

: a light brown to strong yellowish brown

hazel

2 of 2

adjective

1

: consisting of hazels or of the wood of the hazel

2

a

: of the color hazel

b

of eyes : of a variable color averaging light greenish-grayish brown

Examples of hazel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The deep red-plum tint subtly brightens the whites of your eyes and flatters all eye colors, especially greens and hazels. —Jailynn Taylor, Allure, 29 May 2025

Miranda, a now 49-year-old sales associate, had dreamed since childhood of having hazel or green eyes. —Saima S. Iqbal, Scientific American, 8 Apr. 2025

Adjective

One of the patients at my table was a beautiful, young woman with long red hair and hazel eyes. —Lisa Pratta june 12, Literary Hub, 12 June 2025

Amazon matches this price for the hazel finish, doesn’t have rose quartz, but has knocked the price of porcelain and obsidian down by an extra $50, that’s $200 off altogether, to $899. —David Phelan, Forbes, 25 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English hasel, from Old English hæsel; akin to Old High German hasal hazel, Latin corulus

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing hazel

• hazel dormouse
• hazel hen
• hazel mouse
• witch hazel

Rhymes for hazel

• nasal
• phrasal
• appraisal
• intranasal
• reappraisal

Kids Definition

hazel

noun

ha·​zel

ˈhā-zəl

1

: any of a genus of shrubs or small trees related to birches and bearing edible nuts enclosed in a leafy case

2

: a light brown to a strong yellowish brown

hazel adjective