olive

¹

[ol-iv]

noun

1. an evergreen tree, Olea europaea, of Mediterranean and other warm regions, cultivated chiefly for its fruit.

2. the fruit of this tree, a small oval drupe, eaten as a relish and used as a source of oil.

3. Also called olive wood. the wood of this tree, valued for ornamental work.

4. the foliage of this tree.

5. a wreath of it.

6. any of various related or similar trees.

7. olive branch.

8. the ocher green or dull yellow green of the unripe olive fruit.

adjective

1. of, relating to, or made of olives, their foliage, or their fruit.

2. of the color olive.

3. tinged with this color.

   an olive complexion.

Olive

²

[ol-iv]

noun

1. a female given name.

olive

/ ˈɒlɪv /

noun

1. an evergreen oleaceous tree, Olea europaea, of the Mediterranean region but cultivated elsewhere, having white fragrant flowers, and edible shiny black fruits

2. the fruit of this plant, eaten as a relish and used as a source of olive oil

3. the wood of the olive tree, used for ornamental work

4. any of various trees or shrubs resembling the olive

5. 1. a yellow-green colour

   2. ( as adjective )

      an olive coat

6. an angler's name for the dun of various mayflies or an artificial fly in imitation of this

adjective

1. of, relating to, or made of the olive tree, its wood, or its fruit

Other Word Forms

• subolive adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of olive¹

1150–1200; Middle English < Old French < Latin olīva, by-form of olea < dialectal Greek *elaíwa olive, olive tree; oil, oleaceous

Word History and Origins

Origin of olive¹

C13: via Old French from Latin oliva, related to Greek elaia olive tree; compare Greek elaion oil

Example Sentences

It features a vintage kitchen with pink-and-white tiling, drab olive walls and industrial brown flooring.

From Los Angeles Times

I like Telegrama or Friends and Family — a favorite there is the olive oil eggs.

From Los Angeles Times

From among the broken remains of Brahim Hamaiel's olive trees, in the occupied West Bank, we saw the masked men approach.

From BBC

Macron said the felling of the olive tree on Wednesday was "an attempt to kill him a second time", adding: "All means are being deployed to punish this act of hatred."

From BBC

Maybe a little drizzle of good olive oil if you’re feeling romantic.

From Salon

Related Words

• beige 
• brownish www.thesaurus.com
• drab 
• khaki