Haze
/heɪz/
nounverbB1
Definition
Haze is a thin cloud of tiny water drops, dust, or smoke in the air that makes things look unclear or blurry. It often happens in the morning or in places with pollution. As a verb, haze means to cover something with this thin mist or to make a situation or idea unclear or confusing.
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See It in Action
A thin mist or light fog that makes seeing difficult
- •The city was covered in a haze early in the morning.
- •The sun shone weakly through the haze over the lake.
- •After the fire, a haze of smoke hung in the air.
To cover or fill with a light mist or to make unclear (verb)
- •The mountain peaks were hazed by the morning mist.
- •His memory of the event was hazed by time and confusion.
- •The story was hazed by unclear details.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "haze" like "fog," but lighter and less thick—like a soft, thin cloud you can see through but it still makes things blurry.
- ✓Picture looking at a mountain early in the morning when a soft white or gray mist covers it, making the edges fuzzy.
- ✓It's the feeling when you wake up and your eyes feel sleepy and your thoughts are not clear—like your mind is covered by a soft cloud.
- ✓Sounds like "haze" → imagine a lazy, soft "maze" of light mist that makes you lose clear sight.
- ✓Think of scenes in movies where a smoky or dusty air makes everything look mysterious or unclear.
- ✓NOT like "fog" (which is thick and can block vision completely), haze is lighter and you can still see shapes.
- ✓NOT like "smoke" (which is dark and often smells bad), haze is usually light and may not have a strong smell.
- ✓When used as a verb, NOT like "clean" (which makes things clear), "haze" means to make things less clear or confusing.
Try Other Words
- •Fog: thick cloud near the ground that blocks vision (Use when visibility is very low and the air is very wet)
- •Smog: smoke mixed with fog, usually from pollution (Use when haze is caused by pollution in cities)
- •Mist: very light water droplets in air, often gentle and refreshing (Use when describing natural water vapor, especially in nature)
- •Blur: to make something unclear or hard to see (Use when talking about something being visually unclear, especially in close view)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "haze" is a simple root word with no prefix or suffix
- •Etymology: From Middle English "hasen," meaning a mist or smoky air
- •Historical development: Originally used to describe thin smoke or mist in the air; over time also used for unclear mental states or confusing situations
- •Modern usage: Used both for natural weather conditions (mist, smoke) and figuratively for unclear thoughts or memories
Reflect & Connect
•How can haze in the environment affect how people feel or act during the day?
•Can you think of times when your mind felt "hazed" or unclear? What caused it?
Fill in the blanks
1.The early morning haze made it ___ to see the road clearly and ___ the drivers careful.
2.After the campfire, a haze of smoke ___ the sky and made the air smell like wood.
3.His memory was hazed by time, so he couldn't ___ the details of the event.
4.The city was covered in haze, which is ___ than fog but still makes things hard to ___.
5.When the sun shines through haze, it looks ___ and soft instead of bright and clear.
6.The mountain tops were hazed by clouds, making them ___ and hard to ___ from a distance.
7.The story was hazed with confusing parts, so the listeners found it ___ to understand.