haze
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a thin mist, smoke, or dust in the air that makes it difficult to see things in the distance.
n.an atmospheric phenomenon where fine particulate matter or moisture droplets reduce visibility.
Simple“The mountains were hidden behind a thick blue haze of heat and dust.”
In context“A persistent summer haze hung over the valley, obscuring the distant peaks and muting the colours of the landscape.”
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a state of being confused or not being able to remember things clearly.
n.a state of mental obscurity, confusion, or lack of clarity in perception or memory.
Simple“He woke up in a haze, unable to remember where he had parked his car.”
In context“The patient described living in a constant mental haze for weeks following the concussion, struggling to perform even basic cognitive tasks.”
- 03 C1 Advanced
n.the amount of cloudiness in a clear material like glass or plastic.
n.the degree of turbidity or lack of transparency in a substance, often measured as a percentage in manufacturing.
Simple“The plastic screen had a slight haze that made it hard to read the text.”
In context“Engineers measured the haze of the new polymer to ensure it met the strict transparency requirements for optical lenses.”
SynonymsturbidityopacityAntonyms - 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to force new members of a group to do difficult, silly, or unpleasant tasks as a test.
v.to subject newcomers to abusive, humiliating, or dangerous initiation rituals, particularly within fraternities or military units.
Simple“The university has strict rules to stop older students who try to haze the freshmen.”
In context“Several members of the sports team were suspended after reports emerged that they had continued to haze new recruits despite the ban.”
UsageThis verb is transitive and requires a direct object, usually the person being initiated.
Teacher's tipThis term is very common in American campus culture but is often associated with illegal or unethical bullying.
“Historical records from Europe and Asia suggest that skies were darker than usual around that time, perhaps because of a volcanic haze.”