any of several shrubs of the genus Elaeagnus, esp E. angustifolia, of S Europe, Asia, and North America, having silver-white twigs, yellow flowers, and an olive-like fruit: family Elaeagnaceae
2. Also called: wild olive
a wild specimen of the cultivated olive
Word origin
Latin: from olea; see olive, oil
oleaster in American English
(ˈoʊliˌæstər; ˌ oʊliˈæstər)
noun
1.
any of several plants (genus Elaeagnus) of the oleaster family, often grown for ornament; esp. the Russian olive
adjective
2.
designating a family (Elaeagnaceae, order Proteales) of dicotyledonous plants, including buffalo berry