In Genesis, the dove brings Noah a freshly plucked olive leaf as evidence that the Flood waters have receded.
After the raven’s release, Noah sends a dove from the Ark. The first time, it finds no place to rest and returns. Seven days later, Noah sends it again, and the dove comes back toward evening with an olive leaf in its beak. Noah understands that the waters have diminished from the earth.
The leaf is important because it demonstrates that vegetation is visible above the water. It does not mean that the entire landscape is already dry or ready for immediate departure. Noah waits and continues the testing process before leaving the Ark.
The image of a dove carrying an olive branch later becomes a powerful symbol of peace, reconciliation, and hope. In the Genesis account, however, its immediate function is practical: it provides Noah with information about the state of the flooded world.