hamamelidae
- n a group of chiefly woody plants considered among the most primitive of angiosperms; perianth poorly developed or lacking; flowers often unisexual and often in catkins and often wind pollinated; contains 23 families including the Betulaceae and Fagaceae (includes the Amentiferae); sometimes classified as a superorder
hamamelidanthum
- n genus of fossil plants of the Oligocene having flowers resembling those of the witch hazel; found in Baltic region
hamamelidoxylon
- n genus of fossil plants having wood identical with or similar to that of the witch hazel
hamamelis vernalis
- n fragrant shrub of lower Mississippi valley having very small flowers from midwinter to spring
hamamelis virginiana
- n common shrub of eastern North America having small yellow flowers after the leaves have fallen
hamamelites
- n genus of fossil plants having leaves similar to those of the witch hazel
haman
- n (Old Testament) the minister of the Persian emperor who hated the Jews and was hanged for plotting to massacre them
hamartia
- n the character flaw or error of a tragic hero that leads to his downfall
hamartoma
- n a focal growth that resembles a neoplasm but results from faulty development in an organ
hamas
- n a militant Islamic fundamentalist political movement that opposes peace with Israel and uses terrorism as a weapon; seeks to create an Islamic state in place of Israel; is opposed to the PLO and has become a leading perpetrator of terrorist activity in Israel; pioneered suicide bombing
hamburg
- n a port city in northern Germany on the Elbe River that was founded by Charlemagne in the 9th century and is today the largest port in Germany; in 1241 it formed an alliance with Lubeck that became the basis for the Hanseatic League