olive

[ol-iv] /ˈɒl ɪv/
noun
1.
an evergreen tree, Olea europaea, of Mediterranean and other warm regions, cultivated chiefly for its fruit.
Compare olive family.
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.
adjective
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.
Origin
1150-1200; Middle English < Old French < Latin olīva, by-form of olea < dialectal Greek *elaíwa olive, olive tree; cf. oil, oleaceous
Related forms
subolive, adjective

Olive

[ol-iv] /ˈɒl ɪv/
noun
1.
a female given name.
Examples from the web for olive
  • In the architrave, names of famous italians are inlaid in olive wood.
  • The border contains olive branches with nine golden pomegranates in a blue background.
  • The climbing fibers of the inferior olive run through the inferior cerebellar peduncle.
British Dictionary definitions for olive

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.
  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
adjective
7.
of, relating to, or made of the olive tree, its wood, or its fruit
Word Origin
C13: via Old French from Latin oliva, related to Greek elaia olive tree; compare Greek elaion oil
Word Origin and History for olive
n.

c.1200, "olive tree," from Old French olive "olive, olive tree" (13c.) or directly from Latin oliva "olive, olive tree," from Greek elaia "olive tree, olive," probably from the same Aegean language (perhaps Cretan) as Armenian ewi "oil." Applied to the fruit or berry of the tree in English from late 14c. As a color from 17c. Olive branch as a token of peace is from early 13c.

olive in Medicine

olive ol·ive (ŏl'ĭv)
n.
See olivary body.

Slang definitions & phrases for olive

olive

Related Terms

swallow the apple


olive in the Bible

the fruit of the olive-tree. This tree yielded oil which was highly valued. The best oil was from olives that were plucked before being fully ripe, and then beaten or squeezed (Deut. 24:20; Isa. 17:6; 24:13). It was called "beaten," or "fresh oil" (Ex. 27:20). There were also oil-presses, in which the oil was trodden out by the feet (Micah 6:15). James (3:12) calls the fruit "olive berries." The phrase "vineyards and olives" (Judg. 15:5, A.V.) should be simply "olive-yard," or "olive-garden," as in the Revised Version. (See OIL.)