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

I like to rub mine with around four tablespoons of five spice powder, ¼ cup of brown sugar, one tablespoon each of ginger, garlic, and kosher salt, and enough olive oil to make a paste.

Read more on Salon

As the grill fires up, he cuts an onion into ¼-inch slices and seals those inside an aluminum-foil pouch along with salt and olive oil.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

As they continued through the field, Hilltop Youth members emerged from the olive groves nearby, some carrying rocks and metal poles.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Thanks to a key bit of bitterness from fresh olive oil—another Pugliese specialty—and the still-pungent greens, the combination with the rather meaty pasta shape was both subtle and hearty.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

But it urged Turkey to take the necessary legal steps to advance the process, which began a year ago when Ankara offered an unexpected olive branch to its jailed leader Abdullah Ocalan.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

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