an evergreen tree, Olea europaea, of Mediterranean and other warm regions, cultivated chiefly for its fruit.
the fruit of this tree, a small oval drupe, eaten as a relish and used as a source of oil.
Also called olive wood. the wood of this tree, valued for ornamental work.
the foliage of this tree.
a wreath of it.
any of various related or similar trees.
the ocher green or dull yellow green of the unripe olive fruit.
of, relating to, or made of olives, their foliage, or their fruit.
of the color olive.
tinged with this color.
an olive complexion.
an evergreen oleaceous tree, Olea europaea, of the Mediterranean region but cultivated elsewhere, having white fragrant flowers, and edible shiny black fruits
the fruit of this plant, eaten as a relish and used as a source of olive oil
the wood of the olive tree, used for ornamental work
any of various trees or shrubs resembling the olive
a yellow-green colour
( as adjective )
an olive coat
an angler's name for the dun of various mayflies or an artificial fly in imitation of this
1150–1200; Middle English < Old French < Latin olīva, by-form of olea < dialectal Greek *elaíwa olive, olive tree; cf. oil, oleaceous
An olive is a very small fruit, although you probably think of it as a savory snack. You might find an olive on a salad, on a pizza, or even on a toothpick in your martini. Olives are so naturally bitter that they're basically inedible unless they've been treated — cured with lye or salt, and then fermented. In addition to the olives you see in jars on grocery store shelves, olive trees yield an expensive, durable wood; and of course, olive oil. You can also describe the yellowish-green color of an unripe olive as olive. And when someone offers "an olive branch," they are trying to make peace or come to an understanding.
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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
David Sanchez, a 48-year-old painter and decorator, had just returned home to Cebreros after evacuating at the weekend to find that his small olive and pistachio grove had been consumed by the inferno.
From Barron's ● Jul. 27, 2026
As for toppings, finish each bowl with a drizzle of olive oil or a dollop of Greek yogurt if you’re craving protein.
From Salon ● Jul. 25, 2026
A towering freestanding fireplace and sitting area flanked by olive trees anchor one end, and on the other, the pool area.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026
Higher consumption of olive oil, fish, and legumes was associated with increased levels of humanin.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 18, 2026
A foundation of the tea olive strewn over the bottom, cool and green.
From "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" by Carson McCullers
Olive oil and a lower intake of refined carbohydrates were linked to higher levels of SHMOOSE.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 18, 2026
Bill Nguyen, a Silicon Valley veteran who recently founded an AI voice startup called Olive, used a startling 774 billion tokens in the last month and a half, mostly for his personal use, he said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026
A pasta PSA: After a yearslong hiatus, Olive Garden is selling 10,000 Never-Ending Pasta Passes on Thursday, entitling buyers to 13 weeks of unlimited pasta, soup, salad, and breadsticks.
From Slate ● Jul. 14, 2026
Olive crops were particularly affected, with the price of olive oil skyrocketing.
From Barron's ● Jun. 26, 2026
Then Louise said in a small voice, “Well, I hope it works out for them. I wouldn’t miss Olive, particularly. As long as they bring Camilla back.”
From "Secrets at Sea" by Richard Peck
Serve either spritz—or both, each takes five minutes to make—with olives, an antipasti plate or, if you’d rather order in, a couple of pizzas.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026
The basic formula combines pasta with olives, olive brine, lemon, garlic and a creamy cheese like feta or blue cheese.
From Salon ● Jul. 7, 2026
But certain ingredients, like leftover olives, can get thrown into pasta.
From Salon ● Jul. 2, 2026
Wild king salmon topped with tomatoes, olives and capers was accessorized with a puff pastry in the shape of a cartoon fish.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 2, 2026
“And we have olives, cheese, pate, tomatoes and ham. And naturally, wine. Vive l’Angleterre.”
From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
