1. SYN: oliva. 2. Common name for a tree of the genus Olea (family Oleaceae) or its fruit. [L. oliva]
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ol·ive 'äl-iv, -əv n
1) an Old World 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
2) an oval eminence on each ventrolateral aspect of the medulla oblongata that contains the inferior olive of the same side called also olivary body
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n.
a smooth oval swelling in the upper part of the medulla oblongata on each side. It contains a mass of nerve cells, mainly grey matter (olivary nucleus).
• olivary adj.
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ol·ive (olґiv) [L. oliva] 1. any tree of the genus Olea. 2. the fruit of one of these trees, especially O. europaea, which yields olive oil (see under oil). 3. oliva.Medical dictionary. 2011.