[ol.ive] n [ME, fr. OF, fr. L oliva, fr. Gk elaia] (13c) 1 a: 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
[2]olive adj (1657) 1: of the color olive or olive green
2: approaching olive in color or complexion