haven't /hæ v ə nt/ Haven't is the usual spoken form of 'have not'.
hav|er|sack /hæ və r sæk/ (haversacks ) N‑COUNT A haversack is a canvas bag that is usually worn over one shoulder. [mainly BRIT ]
haves /hæ vz/ haves and have-nots → see have-nots
hav|oc /hæ vək/
1 N‑UNCOUNT Havoc is great disorder, and confusion. □ Rioters caused havoc in the centre of the town.
2 PHRASE If one thing plays havoc with another or wreaks havoc on it, it prevents it from continuing or functioning as normal, or damages it. □ The weather played havoc with airline schedules.
haw /hɔː / (haws , hawing , hawed )
1 N‑COUNT Haws are the red berries produced by hawthorn trees in autumn.
2 EXCLAM Writers sometimes use ' haw haw ' to show that one of their characters is laughing, especially in a rather unpleasant or superior way. □ Look at the plebs! Getting all muddy! Haw haw haw!
3 PHRASE If you hem and haw , or in British English hum and haw , you take a long time to say something because you cannot think of the right words, or because you are not sure what to say. □ Tim hemmed and hawed, but finally told his boss the truth.
hawk /hɔː k/ (hawks , hawking , hawked )
1 N‑COUNT A hawk is a large bird with a short, hooked beak, sharp claws, and very good eyesight. Hawks catch and eat small birds and animals.
2 N‑COUNT In politics, if you refer to someone as a hawk , you mean that they believe in using force and violence to achieve something, rather than using more peaceful or diplomatic methods. Compare dove . □ Both hawks and doves have expanded their conditions for ending the war.
3 VERB If someone hawks goods, they sell them by walking through the streets or knocking at people's houses, and asking people to buy them. [OLD-FASHIONED ] □ [V n] …vendors hawking trinkets.
4 VERB You can say that someone is hawking something if you do not like the forceful way in which they are asking people to buy it. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ [V n] Developers will be hawking cut-price flats and houses.
5 PHRASE If you watch someone like a hawk , you observe them very carefully, usually to make sure that they do not make a mistake or do something you do not want them to do.
hawk|er /hɔː kə r / (hawkers ) N‑COUNT You can use hawker to refer to a person who tries to sell things by calling at people's homes or standing in the street, especially when you do not approve of this activity. [DISAPPROVAL ]
hawk|ish /hɔː k I ʃ/ ADJ Journalists use hawkish to describe politicians or governments who are in favour of using force to achieve something, rather than using peaceful and diplomatic methods. □ He is one of the most hawkish members of the new cabinet.
haws|er /hɔː zə r / (hawsers ) N‑COUNT A hawser is a large heavy rope, especially one used on a ship.
haw|thorn /hɔː θɔː r n/ (hawthorns ) N‑VAR A hawthorn is a small tree which has sharp thorns and produces white or pink flowers.
hay /he I /
1 N‑UNCOUNT Hay is grass which has been cut and dried so that it can be used to feed animals. □ …bales of hay.
2 PHRASE If you say that someone is making hay or is making hay while the sun shines , you mean that they are taking advantage of a situation that is favourable to them while they have the chance to. □ We knew that war was coming, and were determined to make hay while we could.
ha y fe|ver N‑UNCOUNT If someone is suffering from hay fever , they sneeze and their eyes itch, because they are allergic to grass or flowers.
hay|stack /he I stæk/ (haystacks )
1 N‑COUNT A haystack is a large, solid pile of hay, often covered with a straw roof to protect it, which is left in the field until it is needed.
2 PHRASE If you are trying to find something and say that it is like looking for a needle in a haystack , you mean that you are very unlikely indeed to find it.
hay|wire /he I wa I ə r / ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If something goes haywire , it goes out of control or starts doing the wrong thing. [INFORMAL ] □ Many Americans think their legal system has gone haywire.
haz|ard /hæ zə r d/ (hazards , hazarding , hazarded )
1 N‑COUNT A hazard is something which could be dangerous to you, your health or safety, or your plans or reputation. □ A new report suggests that chewing-gum may be a health hazard. [Also + to/for/of ]
2 VERB If you hazard someone or something, you put them into a situation which might be dangerous for them. [mainly WRITTEN ] □ [V n] He could not believe that, had the Englishman known how much he was at risk, he would have hazarded his grandson.
3 VERB If you hazard or if you hazard a guess , you make a suggestion about something which is only a guess and which you know might be wrong. □ [V n] I would hazard a guess that they'll do fairly well in the next election. [Also V that] WORD HISTORY hazard
This word comes from the Arabic al zahr , meaning 'the dice'. Traditionally, games using dice have involved risk, and this has led to the word hazard being used to refer to risk and danger.
haz|ard|ous /hæ zə r dəs/ ADJ Something that is hazardous is dangerous, especially to people's health or safety. □ They have no way to dispose of the hazardous waste they produce.
haze /he I z/ (hazes )
1 N‑VAR Haze is light mist, caused by particles of water or dust in the air, which prevents you from seeing distant objects clearly. Haze often forms in hot weather. □ They vanished into the haze near the horizon.