olive

UK: /ˈɒlɪv/ US: /ˈɑlɪv/ ,(ol′iv)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

ol•ive /ˈɑlɪv/   n. 

1. Plant Biology [countable] an evergreen tree of the Mediterranean and other warm regions, grown chiefly for its fruit.
2. Plant Biology [countable] the small, oval-shaped fruit of this tree, eaten as a food and used as a source of oil.
3. Plant Biology [uncountable] the wood of this tree.
4. [uncountable] the green or dull yellow green color of the unripe olive fruit.

adj. 

5. [before a noun] of, relating to, or made of olive or olives.
6. of the color olive.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

ol•ive  (ol′iv), n. 

1. Plant Biology an evergreen tree, Olea europaea, of Mediterranean and other warm regions, cultivated chiefly for its fruit. Cf. olive family. 
2. Plant Biology the fruit of this tree, a small oval drupe, eaten as a relish and used as a source of oil.
3. Plant Biology Also called olive wood. the wood of this tree, valued for ornamental work.
4. Plant Biology the foliage of this tree.
5. a wreath of it.
6. Plant Biology any of various related or similar trees.
7. See olive branch. 
8. the ocher green or dull yellow green of the unripe olive fruit.

adj. 

9. of, pertaining to, or made of olives, their foliage, or their fruit.
10. of the color olive.
11. tinged with this color:
    an olive complexion.

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

Ol•ive  (ol′iv), n. 

1. a female given name.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

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. a yellow-green colour
6. (as adjective): an olive coat

adjective

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

Etymology: 13th Century: via Old French from Latin oliva, related to Greek elaia olive tree; compare Greek elaion oil