olive
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olive¹
- /ˈɒ.lɪv/ UK
- /ˈɑ.lɪv/ US
Where it comes from
From Middle English olyve, from Old French olive (“olive, olive tree”), from Latin olīva (“olive”), itself from either Etruscan *𐌄𐌋𐌄𐌉𐌅𐌀 (*eleiva), Proto-Hellenic *elaíwā (compare Mycenaean Greek 𐀁𐀨𐀷 (e-ra-wa), Ancient Greek ἐλαίᾱ (elaíā)), or the same source as those two. In any case, ultimately from a Mediterranean Pre-Greek source, possibly Proto-Berber *wlw (“wild olive”). More questionably, maybe from Proto-Indo-European *loiwom (compare Old Church Slavonic лои (loi, “tallow”), Old Armenian եւղ (ewł, “oil”)). Doublet of oliva and oil. Displaced native Old English eleberġe, literally "oil berry."
noun olives
- A tree of species Olea europaea cultivated since ancient times in the Mediterranean for its fruit and the oil obtained from it.
- The small oval fruit of this tree, eaten ripe (usually black) or unripe (usually green). Trevor, like an Aussie outbacker, eats snacks and a pickup meal of bread, cantaloupe, olives, mangoes, and melon.
- The wood of the olive tree.
- A dark yellowish-green color, that of an unripe olive.
- An olivary body, part of the medulla oblongata.
- A component of a plumbing compression joint; a ring which is placed between the nut and the pipe and compressed during fastening to provide a seal.
- A small slice of meat seasoned, rolled up, and cooked. a beef olive
- Any shell of the genus Oliva and allied genera; so called from the shape.
- An oystercatcher, a shore bird of genus Haematopus.
adjective more olive · most olive
- Of a grayish green color, that of an unripe olive. Appleby[…]rose from his seat when Morales came in. He shook hands urbanely, unbuckled his sword, and laid his kepi on the table, and then sat down with an expression of concern in his olive face which Appleby fancied was assumed.
Olive²
Where it comes from
Medieval form of the Latin saint's name Oliva "olive"; revived in the 19th century when flower and plant names became fashionable. The surname is topographical, often representing an Anglicization of continental European surnames such as Spanish Oliva.
proper noun
- A female given name from English. And hear me swear a solemn oath, / That only by thy side / Will I to Olive plight my troth, / And gain her for my bride.
- A surname.
- A male given name from English.
- A community in the city of Orange, Orange County, California.
- A township and unincorporated community therein, in St. Joseph County, Indiana.
- An unincorporated community in Dallas County, Missouri, named after a Baptist church.
- An unincorporated community in Powder River County, Montana.
- A town in Ulster County, New York, from the bible story of dove and olive branch.
- An unincorporated community in Creek County, Oklahoma, from the girl's name.
- An unincorporated community in Spotsylvania County, Virginia.
- An unincorporated community in Pocahontas County, West Virginia.
- A number of townships in the United States, listed under Olive Township.
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: colored, chromatic, olea europaea, martini, oil, flycatcher, canary, oliva, zeitoun, fluid, oyl, scheme, accept, accepted, frank, oliver
Translations
Every language
noun colour
| Español | aceitunado |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 올리브색 ollibeusaek |
| 日本語 | オリーブ色 orībuiro, 橄欖色 kanranshoku |
| हिन्दी | तैलबदर tailbadar, तैलबदर रंग tailbadar raṅg, तैलबदर हरि tailbadar hari |
| Português | verde-oliva |
| Italiano | verde oliva |
| Ελληνικά | λαδί ladí |
| Русский | оли́вковый olívkovyj |
| العربية | زَيْتُونِيّ zaytūniyy, زَيْتِيّ zaytiyy |
noun fruit
| Español | aceituna, oliva |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 올리브 ollibeu |
| 日本語 | オリーブ orību |
| 中文 | 橄欖 /橄榄 gǎnlǎn, 齊墩果 /齐墩果 qídūnguǒ |
| हिन्दी | ज़ैतून zaitūn, तैलबदर tailabdar, जलपाई jalpāī |
| Kiswahili | zeituni |
| Português | azeitona, oliva |
| Français | olive |
| Deutsch | Olive |
| Italiano | oliva |
| Ελληνικά | ελιά eliá |
| Română | măslină, olivă |
| Русский | оли́вка olívka, масли́на maslína, масли́нка maslínka |
| Tiếng Việt | ô liu |
| العربية | زَيْتُون zaytūn |
| עברית | זַיִת záyit |
adj colour
| 日本語 | オリーブ色 orību-iro |
|---|---|
| हिन्दी | ज़ैतूनी zaitūnī |
| Português | verde-azeitona, verde-oliva |
| Deutsch | oliv, olivfarben, olivfarbig |
| Italiano | verde oliva |
| Ελληνικά | λαδής ladís |
| Română | măsliniu, oliv |
| Русский | оли́вковый olívkovyj |
| العربية | زَيْتُونِيّ zaytūniyy, زَيْتِيّ zaytiyy |
Talk about this word "olive." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/olive. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. olive. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/olive "olive." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/olive.Cite this
@misc{olive_2026,
title = {olive},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/olive},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
