noun B2 Upper-Intermediate Common

olive

O-lihv

Olive (noun) means a small oval fruit, usually eaten pickled or pressed for its oil, that grows on a Mediterranean tree. Example: “She added a handful of green olives to the salad.”

noun

A small oval fruit, usually eaten pickled or pressed for its oil, that grows on a Mediterranean tree.

"She added a handful of green olives to the salad."

"Olive oil is a staple of Mediterranean cooking."

The tree itself, cultivated for thousands of years around the Mediterranean.

"Ancient olive groves still stand across parts of Greece and Italy."

adj

A dull, yellowish-green colour, like an unripe olive.

"He wore an olive-green jacket."

How to use olive

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe small Mediterranean fruit used for oil and as a garnish, or the muted green colour named after it.

Common mistake

An "olive branch" figuratively means a gesture of peace, not literally a branch from the tree.

Common pairings

olive oil olive branch olive tree olive-green

Word forms

more olive comparative, olives plural, most olive superlative

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

She added a handful of green _____ to the salad.

Etymology

Traces through Old French and Latin oliva back to an ancient Mediterranean word, ultimately the same root that gives us "oil."

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

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olive-green

Rhymes for olive

five give dive live drive alive strive derive active arrive native abusive

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Frequently asked questions

What does “olive” mean?

The word “olive” means a small oval fruit, usually eaten pickled or pressed for its oil, that grows on a Mediterranean tree. In plain terms, the small Mediterranean fruit used for oil and as a garnish, or the muted green colour named after it.

How do you pronounce “olive”?

“Olive” is pronounced O-lihv (/ˈɑ.lɪv/ in IPA).

How do you use “olive” in a sentence?

Here is “olive” used in a sentence: “She added a handful of green olives to the salad.”

What part of speech is “olive”?

Depending on how it is used, “olive” can be a noun and an adjective.

Where does the word “olive” come from?

The word “olive” comes from Latin. Traces through Old French and Latin oliva back to an ancient Mediterranean word, ultimately the same root that gives us "oil.".

Is “olive” a common word?

“Olive” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

How many meanings does “olive” have?

“Olive” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small oval fruit, usually eaten pickled or pressed for its oil, that grows on a Mediterranean tree.

Is an olive a fruit or a vegetable?

An olive is botanically a fruit — a small oval fruit that grows on the olive tree. Because olives are savoury and usually eaten pickled rather than sweet, cooks often treat them like a vegetable, but they are classed as fruit.

What is the difference between olive and khaki?

Olive is a dull yellowish-green colour, like an unripe olive, while khaki is a dull yellowish-brown or tan. The two are often confused because both are common in military and outdoor clothing.

What is the difference between green olives and black olives?

Green olives are picked before they ripen, while black olives are left to ripen on the tree — they are the same fruit at different stages. Both are typically cured or pickled before eating, because raw olives are extremely bitter.

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