¹olive

noun ol·ive \ˈä-liv, -ləv\

: a small, egg-shaped black or green fruit that is used as food or for making oil

: a tree on which olives grow

: a yellowish-green color

Full Definition of OLIVE

a : a Mediterranean evergreen tree (Olea europaea of the family Oleaceae, the olive family) cultivated for its drupaceous fruit that is an important food and source of oil; also : the fruit

b : any of various shrubs and trees resembling the olive

: any of several colors resembling that of the unripe fruit of the olive tree that are yellowish green

: an oval eminence on each ventrolateral aspect of the medulla oblongata

See olive defined for English-language learners

See olive defined for kids

Origin of OLIVE

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin oliva, from Greek elaia

First Known Use: 13th century

²olive

adjective

Definition of OLIVE

: of the color olive or olive green

: approaching olive in color or complexion

First Known Use of OLIVE

1657

OLIVE Defined for Kids

olive

noun ol·ive \ˈä-liv\

Definition of OLIVE for Kids

: the oily fruit of an evergreen tree that is eaten both ripe and unripe and is the source of an edible oil (olive oil)

: a yellowish green color

Medical Dictionary

olive

noun ol·ive \ˈäl-iv, -əv\

Medical Definition of OLIVE

: an Old World evergreen tree (Olea europaea of the family Oleaceae, the olive family) cultivated for its drupaceous fruit that is an important food and source of oil; also : the fruit

: an oval eminence on each ventrolateral aspect of the medulla oblongata that contains the inferior olive of the same side—called also olivary body