n 1  cap  :  a genus of shrubs or small trees (family Hamamelidaceae) having pinnately veined leaves and clustered flowers with elongated ribbon-shaped petals and including the witch hazels  2  :  the dried leaves of a witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) of the eastern U.S. used esp. formerly as a tonic and sedative .
 
 
 
Similar sounding terms:  hemi·me·lus 
 
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