# olive

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈɒ.lɪv/ · frequency rank #6,168

## Definitions
1. A tree of species Olea europaea cultivated since ancient times in the Mediterranean for its fruit and the oil obtained from it.
2. The small oval fruit of this tree, eaten ripe (usually black) or unripe (usually green).
3. The wood of the olive tree.
4. A dark yellowish-green color, that of an unripe olive.
5. An olivary body, part of the medulla oblongata.
6. 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.
7. A small slice of meat seasoned, rolled up, and cooked.
8. Any shell of the genus Oliva and allied genera; so called from the shape.
9. An oystercatcher, a shore bird of genus Haematopus.

## Etymology
From Middle English olyve, from Old French olive (“olive, olive tree”), from Latin olīva (“olive”), itself either from Etruscan *𐌄𐌋𐌄𐌉𐌅𐌀 (*eleiva), Pre-Classical Greek *ἐλαίϝα (*elaíwa) (compare Mycenaean Greek 𐀁𐀨𐀷 (e-ra-wa), Ancient Greek ἐλαία (elaía)), 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. Displaced native Old English eleberġe, literally "oil berry."

## Easily confused with
- **Opie** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/olive-vs-opie)
- **oxide** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/olive-vs-oxide)
- **ollie** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/olive-vs-ollie)
- **online** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/olive-vs-online)
- **Oliver** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/olive-vs-oliver)
- **Olivia** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/olive-vs-olivia)
- **Olivier** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/olive-vs-olivier)
- **outlive** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/olive-vs-outlive)
- **ole** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ole-vs-olive)
- **olde** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/olde-vs-olive)
- **oldie** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/oldie-vs-olive)
- **oblige** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/oblige-vs-olive)

## Common misspellings (6)
`loive`, `oilve`, `oliev`, `olivve`, `ollive`, `olvie`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/olive