olive
a small bitter green or black fruit that is eaten or used to produce oil, or a Mediterranean tree on which this fruit grows
olive groves
Oxford Essential Dictionary
olive
noun
a small green or black fruit, that people eat or make into oil
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
olive
ol‧ive /ˈɒləv, ˈɒlɪv $ ˈɑː-/ BrE AmE noun
[Date: 1100-1200; Language: Old French; Origin: Latin oliva, from Greek elaia]
1. [countable] a small bitter egg-shaped black or green fruit, used as food and for making oil
2. [countable] (also olive tree) a tree that produces olives, grown especially in Mediterranean countries:
an olive grove
3. [uncountable] (also olive green) a deep yellowish green colour
4. olive skin/complexion skin colour that is typical of people from countries such as Greece, Italy, or Turkey
5. extend/offer/hold out etc an olive branch (to somebody) to do or say something in order to show that you want to end an argument with someone
—olive adjective:
an olive sweatshirt
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
olive
olive [olive olives] noun, adjective [ˈɒlɪv] [ˈɑːlɪv]
noun
1. countable a small green or black fruit with a strong taste, used in cooking and for its oil
2. (also ˈolive tree) countable a tree on which olives grow
• olive groves
3. (also ˌolive ˈgreen) uncountable a yellowish-green colour
Word Origin:
Middle English: via Old French from Latin oliva, from Greek elaia, from elaion ‘oil’.
adjective
1. (also ˌolive-ˈgreen) yellowish-green in colour
2. (of skin) yellowish-brown in colour
• an olive complexion
Word Origin:
Middle English: via Old French from Latin oliva, from Greek elaia, from elaion ‘oil’.
Example Bank:
• The thin straps revealed the pale olive tone of her shoulders.
• a dark olive green carpet
See also: olive green ▪ olive tree
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary
olive / ˈɒl.ɪv / / ˈɑː.lɪv / noun [ C ]
olive
B1 a small bitter green or black fruit that is eaten or used to produce oil, or a Mediterranean tree on which this fruit grows:
olive groves
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary
olive
[ɒ̱lɪv]
olives
1) N-VAR Olives are small green or black fruit with a bitter taste. Olives are often pressed to make olive oil.
2) N-COUNT An olive tree or an olive is a tree on which olives grow.
Olives look romantic on a hillside in Provence.
...an olive grove.
3) COLOUR Something that is olive is yellowish-green in colour.
...glowing colours such as deep red, olive, saffron and ochre.
COMB in COLOUR
Olive is also a combining form. She wore an olive-green T-shirt.
4) ADJ: usu ADJ n If someone has olive skin, the colour of their skin is light brown.
They are handsome with dark, shining hair, olive skin and fine brown eyes.
Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary
olive
ol·ive /ˈɑːlɪv/ noun, pl -ives
1 [count]
a : a small, egg-shaped black or green fruit that is used as food or for making oil
• a sauce made with chopped olives
b : a tree on which olives grow - called also olive tree,
2 [noncount] : a yellowish-green color
• Does the suit come in olive?
- called also olive green,
- see color picture
- olive adj
• She has olive skin. [=her skin has a yellowish-green tone to it]
• He has an olive complexion.
