blues

¹

[ blooz ]

noun

1. the blues, (used with a plural verb) depressed spirits; despondency; melancholy:

   This rainy spell is giving me the blues.

2. (used with a singular verb) Jazz.
   1. a song, originating with African Americans, that is marked by the frequent occurrence of blue notes, and that takes the basic form, customarily improvised upon in performance, of a 12-bar chorus consisting of a 3-line stanza with the second line repeating the first.
   2. the genre constituting such songs.

blues

²

[ blooz ]

noun

, (used with a plural verb)

1. any of various blue military uniforms worn by members of the U.S. armed services:

   dress blues.

2. a blue uniform for work; blue work clothes:

   a doctor in surgical blues.

3. Informal. police:

   The blues keep this neighborhood safe.

Blues

¹

/ bluːz /

plural noun

1. the Blues
   the Blues the Royal Horse Guards

blues

²

/ bluːz /

plural noun

1. a feeling of depression or deep unhappiness
2. a type of folk song devised by Black Americans at the beginning of the 20th century, usually employing a basic 12-bar chorus, the tonic, subdominant, and dominant chords, frequent minor intervals, and blue notes

blues

1. A kind of jazz that evolved from the music of African-Americans, especially work songs and spirituals (see also spirituals ), in the early twentieth century. Blues pieces often express worry or depression.

Derived Forms

• ˈbluesy, adjective

Other Words From

• bluesy adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of blues¹

First recorded in 1740–50; blue (in the sense “depressed in spirits; dejected; melancholy”)

Origin of blues²

blue, -s ³

Idioms and Phrases

see have the blues .