olive

1 of 2

noun

ol·​ive ˈä-liv How to pronounce olive (audio)
-ləv
1
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
2
: any of several colors resembling that of the unripe fruit of the olive tree that are yellowish green
3
: an oval eminence on each ventrolateral aspect of the medulla oblongata

olive

2 of 2

adjective

1
: of the color olive or olive green
2
: approaching olive in color or complexion

Examples of olive in a Sentence

Noun a sauce made with chopped olives Does the suit come in olive?
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The Palestinians have been killed by extremist settlers, their houses burned down, pushed out of villages, olive orchards chopped down in the middle of olive season, which is the number one income producing time for a lot of these villagers. CBS News, 19 Nov. 2023 With its striking aromatics of tomatoes and olives, this powerful, expressive Greek red-grape variety boasts the boldness, tannins, and body required to stand up to any truffle or porcini dish. Jason O'Bryan, Robb Report, 12 Nov. 2023 The convertible backpack comes in seven colors too, including black, olive, and bright pink. Rachel Simon, Peoplemag, 12 Nov. 2023 The olives and peppers are classic additions that give the pizza a strong nostalgia factor. Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 9 Nov. 2023 Situated between the Adriatic Sea and the Apennine Mountains, this region is known for a climate where wine grapes and olives thrive—and a cuisine that leans into fresh vegetables, grains, and a mix of meat and seafood. Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Oct. 2023 There are a lot of brands out there that are focusing on giving the customer more choices in bold yet approachable colorways like khaki, burgundy, cognac, and even olive. Nikita Charuza, Peoplemag, 23 Oct. 2023 Moody shades like pale blues and olives play up the season's more typical tangerines. Calin Van Paris, Vogue, 22 Oct. 2023 The characteristic manmade terraces called poggi were built to cultivate vineyards and olives, two of the region’s specialties. Kasia Dietz, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Oct. 2023
Adjective
Not far away, beyond an Israeli checkpoint, a Palestinian family kept the children close as night fell across the olive groves. Jeffrey Fleishman, Los Angeles Times, 13 Nov. 2023 But there has also been a major surge in attacks by armed Israeli settlers on Palestinians in nearby towns, hamlets, olive groves, and grazing land. Ned Temko, The Christian Science Monitor, 9 Nov. 2023 These dark clouds and thunderclaps — even interspersed with the occasional roar of an Israeli fighter jet — would usually be a celebratory moment for this family of farmers, an essential lifesource for their olive groves in this otherwise desiccated uplands. Alexander Smith, NBC News, 3 Nov. 2023 After dinner, cake was served on a patio overlooking the olive groves, before an all-night disco party ensued in the historic outbuildings of the house. Alexandra MacOn, Vogue, 31 Oct. 2023 Of course, they're mobbed in the summer, but the season begins in May and winds down in late October, so there's ample opportunity to enjoy the olive groves and vineyards without the crowds. Sara Lieberman, Travel + Leisure, 25 Oct. 2023 He was last seen wearing a red and gray jacket; a blue, purple and brown patterned fleece; tan or red clay pants; and an olive brimmed hat, according to the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 15 Sep. 2023 There’s contrasting navy corduroy trim on the olive colorway, plus brass snap front buttons for a modern effect. Dorian Smith-Garcia, Parents, 13 Sep. 2023 For tan and olive skin tones, warm up a chocolate base with soft copper and golden caramel. Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 5 Sep. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'olive.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

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

First Known Use

Noun

1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1657, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of olive was in 1600

Dictionary Entries Near olive

Cite this Entry

“Olive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/olive. Accessed 28 Nov. 2023.

Kids Definition

olive

noun
ol·​ive
ˈäl-iv,
-əv
1
: a Mediterranean evergreen tree grown for its fruit
also : the edible fruit of the olive tree that is the source of an oil
2
: a yellowish green
olive adjective

Medical Definition

olive

noun
ol·​ive ˈäl-iv, -əv How to pronounce olive (audio)
1
: 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
2
: an oval eminence on each ventrolateral aspect of the medulla oblongata that contains the inferior olive of the same side

called also olivary body

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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