olive
nounadjectivecommon in dialogue
- United Kingdom//ˈɒ.lɪv//
- United States//ˈɑ.lɪv//
A tree of species Olea europaea cultivated since ancient times in the Mediterranean for its fruit and the oil obtained from it.
noun
- 1
A tree of species Olea europaea cultivated since ancient times in the Mediterranean for its fruit and the oil obtained from it.
- 2
The small oval fruit of this tree, eaten ripe (usually black) or unripe (usually green).
Trevor, like an Aussie outbacker, eats snacks and a pickup meal of bread, cantaloupe, olives, mangoes, and melon.
- 3
The wood of the olive tree.
- 4
A dark yellowish-green color, that of an unripe olive.
- 5
An olivary body, part of the medulla oblongata.
- 6
A component of a plumbing compression joint; a ring which is placed between the nut and the pipe and compressed during fastening to provide a seal.
- 7
A small slice of meat seasoned, rolled up, and cooked.
a beef olive
olives of veal
- 8
Any shell of the genus Oliva and allied genera; so called from the shape.
- 9
An oystercatcher, a shore bird of genus Haematopus.
Etymology
From Middle English olyve, from Old French olive (“olive, olive tree”), from Latin olīva (“olive”), itself from either Etruscan *𐌄𐌋𐌄𐌉𐌅𐌀 (*eleiva), Proto-Hellenic *elaíwā (compare Mycenaean Greek 𐀁𐀨𐀷 (e-ra-wa), Ancient Greek ἐλαίᾱ (elaíā)), or the same source as those two. In any case, ultimately from a Mediterranean Pre-Greek source, possibly Proto-Berber *wlw (“wild olive”). More questionably, maybe from Proto-Indo-European *loiwom (compare Old Church Slavonic лои (loi, “tallow”), Old Armenian եւղ (ewł, “oil”)). Doublet of oliva and oil. Displaced native Old English eleberġe, literally "oil berry."
adjective
- 1
Of a grayish green color, that of an unripe olive.
Appleby[…]rose from his seat when Morales came in. He shook hands urbanely, unbuckled his sword, and laid his kepi on the table, and then sat down with an expression of concern in his olive face which Appleby fancied was assumed.
The “little green men”—faces covered, wearing unmarked olive uniforms, speaking Russian and using Russian weapons—have played a significant role in both the occupation of Crimea and the civil war in eastern Ukraine.¹⁹⁶
Forms
- plural
- olives
- comparative
- more olive
- superlative
- most olive
olive · A tree of species Olea europaea cultivated since ancient times in the Mediterranean for its fruit and the oil obtained from it.
Olive · A female given name from English.oliver · A small tilt hammer, worked by the foot.Oliver · A male given name from the Germanic languages.