olive
noun
ol·ive
| \ ˈä-liv
, -ləv\
, -ləv\
Definition of olive
(Entry 1 of 2)
1a
: 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
adjectiveDefinition of olive (Entry 2 of 2)
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
Elsewhere, an olive tree, boxwood, westringia and lavender provide refreshing greenery without requiring excessive water or upkeep. — Emily Young, Los Angeles Times, "A Santa Monica backyard is remade for outdoor entertaining," 22 Aug. 2019 The tiny black olives make a beautiful golden oil rich in fatty acids and renowned for its fruity aroma. — Jennifer Goldstein, Marie Claire, "Davines' Newest Shampoo Took 203 Years to Make," 8 May 2019 Coleman is particularly fond of their Arbequina oil, which is more mellow, and their oil made from the Picual olives, which is more assertive. — Brette Warshaw, GQ, "The Best Olive Oils for Any Kitchen," 26 Apr. 2018 In a liquid measuring cup, combine the olive and grapeseed oils. — Bibby Gignilliat, The Mercury News, "Quick Cook: Grilled Portobello Burgers with Cilantro-Lime Aioli," 27 July 2019 Johnson also said in that same interview that his chance of one day becoming, like his hero Churchill, British prime minister was about as good as finding Elvis on Mars or being reincarnated as an olive. — Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY, "Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson is like Trump. Only he isn't.," 23 July 2019 In a bowl, toss the olives, watermelon, shallot, mint, olive oil, salt, and black pepper. 2. — Karoline Boehm Goodnick, BostonGlobe.com, "Recipe: Spicy watermelon gazpacho has all the elements of the classic soup — with a chile pepper," 23 July 2019 Roll into glass, back into shaker, back into glass. Garnish with 2 asparagus spears and an olive on a toothpick. — Aleksandra Crapanzano, WSJ, "In Praise of the Morning Cocktail," 25 June 2019 Mushrooms, brought down to earth from above the bar, are drenched in a strong sauce à la grecque, and the tuna Niçoise is overpowered by the olive. — Jessica Henderson, The New Yorker, "Maison Yaki’s Cheeky French-Japanese Fusion," 14 June 2019Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective
In 2009, dozens of wildfires broke out across Greece, torching olive groves, cutting off villages, and sending residents fleeing as one of the largest blazes swept perilously close to the capital’s northern suburbs. — BostonGlobe.com, "This day in history," 22 Aug. 2019 The Tlaib family’s single-story, flat-roofed home is one of the simpler houses in the area, with a small olive grove and a few fig trees standing in its otherwise bare yard. — Isabel Kershner, New York Times, "In Tlaib’s Ancestral Village, Grandmother Weathers a Global Political Storm," 16 Aug. 2019 The gentle slope behind the home also offers the opportunity to take advantage of the optimal sun exposure for a vineyard, olive tree grove or fruit tree orchard. — Monica Lander, The Mercury News, "Sponsored: One of a Kind: Spectacular Mt. Diablo views from a Round Hill North home in Alamo," 12 Aug. 2019 The strip was once thick with olive groves but the Israeli army has levelled well over a thousand acres of them. — The Economist, "How to eat well while living under siege," 2 Aug. 2019 Milian wore a white tank top that accented her small baby bump, paired with olive-green pants and matching booties. — Helen Murphy, PEOPLE.com, "Christina Milian Shows Off Her Baby Bump While Out and About After Pregnancy Announcement," 1 Aug. 2019 Marrakech’s red walls quickly give way to olive tree groves and then snowcapped peaks. — National Geographic, "Music in Morocco: The ultimate sonic journey," 23 July 2019 Towering cypresses and ancient olive trees ring a wide front lawn, which looks out over a pleasant valley toward nearby ski slopes, still carpeted with snow in April. — Joshua Levine, WSJ, "The Rustic Charm of an Idyllic Tuscan Hideaway," 21 May 2019 On one hand, rows of olive trees stand like obedient soldiers before a turreted building that almost looks like a castle. — Gemma Askham, Condé Nast Traveler, "5 Best Day Trips from Barcelona," 4 Mar. 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'olive.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for olive
olive
noun
English Language Learners Definition of olive
: 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
See the full definition for olive in the English Language Learners Dictionary
olive
noun
ol·ive
| \ ˈä-liv
\
\
Kids Definition of olive
1
: the oily fruit of an evergreen tree that is eaten both ripe and unripe and is the source of an edible oil (
olive oil
)
2
: a yellowish green color
olive
noun
ol·ive
| \ ˈäl-iv, -əv
\
\
Medical Definition of olive
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
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