olive

¹ American  

[ol-iv] / ˈɒl ɪv /

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.

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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 American  

[ol-iv] / ˈɒl ɪv /

noun

1. a female given name.

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olive British  

/ 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

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adjective

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

Other Word Forms

• subolive adjective

Etymology

Origin of olive

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

Example Sentences

Altamaha bass, or Micropterus calliurus, also have golden scales but with olive edging and darker side markings.

From Science Daily • Mar. 23, 2026

At minimum, this might be a bowl of lemons, a pile of fresh herbs, flaky salt and a bottle of good olive oil.

From Salon • Mar. 15, 2026

Lewis of PLATracker suggested the lull could serve as an olive branch signaling a desire for stability ahead of Xi’s meeting with Trump.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 12, 2026

The two were deep in conversation about olive oil, wedding cake and other culinary matters, while nearby his co-star Lionel Boyce leaned in for a huddle with “The Studio” co-creator Seth Rogen.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 2, 2026

He’d already overturned the bag and scattered its innards all over the shaggy olive green carpet.

From "Shooting Kabul" by N. H. Senzai

Related Words

• beige
• brownish
• drab
• khaki