Home UK English oliva

Meaning of oliva in English:

oliva

Pronunciation /əʊˈlʌɪvə/

noun

  • 1Zoology
    (In form Oliva) a genus of marine gastropod molluscs of the family Olividae, characterized by glossy cylindrical shells; (also oliva; more fully "oliva shell") a member of this genus; an olive shell.

  • 2Anatomy
    The olivary body (more fully "oliva inferior"). Also (in full "oliva superior"): the superior olivary nucleus.

Origin

Early 19th century; earliest use found in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London.