English · Word Candidate

olive

/ˈɒ.lɪv/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: olives

Sense 1

Meaning · English

A tree of species Olea europaea cultivated since ancient times in the Mediterranean for its fruit and the oil obtained from it.

Noun

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

The small oval fruit of this tree, eaten ripe (usually black) or unripe (usually green).

Noun

Examples

Trevor, like an Aussie outbacker, eats snacks and a pickup meal of bread, cantaloupe, olives, mangoes, and melon.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 3

Meaning · English

Of a grayish green color, that of an unripe olive.

Adjective

Examples

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.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “olive” mean?

A tree of species Olea europaea cultivated since ancient times in the Mediterranean for its fruit and the oil obtained from it.

Is “olive” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.