blues

[ blooz ]

/ bluz /

noun

the blues, (used with a plural verb) depressed spirits; despondency; melancholy: This rainy spell is giving me the blues.

(used with a singular verb) Jazz.

a song, originating with American blacks, 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.
the genre constituting such songs.

QUIZZES

DO YOU KNOW THIS VOCABULARY FROM "THE HANDMAID'S TALE"?

"The Handmaid's Tale" was required reading for many of us in school. Everyone else has probably watched the very popular and addictive TV show. Do you remember this vocabulary from the book, and do you know what these terms mean?

Question 1 of 10

decorum

the act of or need for making up one's mind.

dignified propriety of behavior, speech, dress, etc.

a company of singers, especially an organized group employed in church service.

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Origin of blues

1800–10, Americanism; cf. blue devils

OTHER WORDS FROM blues

blues·y, adjective

Words nearby blues

blueness, bluenose, bluepoint, blueprint, blueprinting, blues, blues-rock, blueschist, blueshift, bluesman, bluesnarfing

Definition for blues (2 of 3)

blues²

[ blooz ]

/ bluz /

noun (used with a plural verb)

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

a blue uniform for work; blue work clothes: a doctor in surgical blues.

Informal. police: The blues keep this neighborhood safe.

Origin of blues

see origin at blue, -s³

Definition for blues (3 of 3)

blue

[ bloo ]

/ blu /

noun

the pure color of a clear sky; the primary color between green and violet in the visible spectrum, an effect of light with a wavelength between 450 and 500 nm.

bluing.

something having a blue color: Place the blue next to the red.

a person who wears blue or is a member of a group characterized by some blue symbol: Tomorrow the blues will play the browns.

(often initial capital letter) a member of the Union army in the American Civil War or the army itself.Compare gray¹(def 13).

bluestocking.

blue ribbon(def 1).

any of several blue-winged butterflies of the family Lycaenidae.

Printing. blueline.

the blue,

the sky.
the sea.
the remote distance: They've vanished into the blue somewhere.

adjective, blu·er, blu·est.

of the color of blue: a blue tie.

(initial capital letter) of or relating to the Union army in the American Civil War.

(of the skin) discolored by cold, contusion, fear, or vascular collapse.

depressed in spirits; dejected; melancholy: She felt blue about not being chosen for the team.

holding or offering little hope; dismal; bleak: a blue outlook.

characterized by or stemming from rigid morals or religion: statutes that were blue and unrealistic.

marked by blasphemy: The air was blue with oaths.

(of an animal's pelage) grayish-blue.

indecent; somewhat obscene; risqué: a blue joke or film.

verb (used with object), blued, blu·ing or blue·ing.

to make blue; dye a blue color.

to tinge with bluing: Don't blue your clothes till the second rinse.

verb (used without object), blued, blu·ing or blue·ing.

to become or turn blue.

Origin of blue

1250–1300; Middle English blewe < Anglo-French blew, bl(i)u, bl(i)ef blue, livid, discolored, Old French blo, blau (French bleu) < Germanic *blǣwaz; compare Old English blǣwen, contraction of blǣhǣwen deep blue, perse (see blae, hue¹), Old Frisian blāw, Middle Dutch blā(u), Old High German blāo (German blau), Old Norse blār

SYNONYMS FOR blue

1 azure, cerulean, sapphire.

14 despondent, unhappy, morose, doleful, dispirited, sad, glum, downcast.

15 gloomy, dispiriting.

16 righteous, puritanical, moral, severe, prudish.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR blue ON THESAURUS.COM

ANTONYMS FOR blue

14 happy.

SEE ANTONYMS FOR blue ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM blue

blue·ly, adverbblue·ness, nounhalf-blue, adjectiveun·blued, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH blue

blew blue

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for blues

You spice it with blues and skiffle music, and pickle it in alcohol and tobacco smoke.
The Greatest Rock Voice of All Time Belonged to Joe Cocker|Ted Gioia|December 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
"Goin' Down Slow" Cocker and Elton John duetted on this blues cover on French music show Trafic Musique in 2005.
Joe Cocker's Deep Live Cuts|Asawin Suebsaeng|December 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
English blues and rock singer Joe Cocker has died at age 70.
Joe Cocker's Deep Live Cuts|Asawin Suebsaeng|December 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This performance of Bob Dylan's 1971 blues tune features Clapton on guitar.
Joe Cocker's Deep Live Cuts|Asawin Suebsaeng|December 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Blues music is often treated like a museum piece, a relic from a bygone day, but this band will make you want to get up and dance.
The Best Albums of 2014|Ted Gioia|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Nor are blues always attainable by throwing vapor over shade.
Modern Painters, Volume V (of 5)|John Ruskin
Depression is often the only symptom; to some girls the premonitory "blues" signify the approach of the period.
The Social Emergency|Various
What he said was, "Do you wish me also to lose my career and leave the Blues?"
The Rhodesian|Gertrude Page
"Nothing like good salt air and a long swim to get the best of the blues, Captain," he announced, cheerfully.
The Boy Chums Cruising in Florida Waters|Wilmer M. Ely
Floundering and slipping in the mud, the Blues steadily pounded their way down to the "Maroon's" goal.
Bert Wilson on the Gridiron|J. W. Duffield

British Dictionary definitions for blues (1 of 4)

blues

/ (bluːz) /

pl n the blues (sometimes functioning as singular)

a feeling of depression or deep unhappiness

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

Derived forms of blues

bluesy, adjective

British Dictionary definitions for blues (2 of 4)

Blues

/ (bluːz) /

pl n

the Blues British the Royal Horse Guards

British Dictionary definitions for blues (3 of 4)

blue

/ (bluː) /

noun

any of a group of colours, such as that of a clear unclouded sky, that have wavelengths in the range 490–445 nanometres. Blue is the complementary colour of yellow and with red and green forms a set of primary coloursRelated adjective: cyanic

a dye or pigment of any of these colours

blue cloth or clothingdressed in blue

a sportsperson who represents or has represented Oxford or Cambridge University and has the right to wear the university colour (dark blue for Oxford, light blue for Cambridge)an Oxford blue
the honour of so representing one's university

British an informal name for Tory

any of numerous small blue-winged butterflies of the genera Lampides, Polyommatus, etc: family Lycaenidae

archaic short for bluestocking

slang a policeman

archery a blue ring on a target, between the red and the black, scoring five points

a blue ball in snooker, etc

another name for blueing

Australian and NZ slang an argument or fighthe had a blue with a taxi driver

Also: bluey Australian and NZ slang a court summons, esp for a traffic offence

Australian and NZ informal a mistake; error

out of the blue apparently from nowhere; unexpectedlythe opportunity came out of the blue

into the blue into the unknown or the far distance

adjective bluer or bluest

of the colour blue

(of the flesh) having a purple tinge, as from cold or contusion

depressed, moody, or unhappy

dismal or depressinga blue day

indecent, titillating, or pornographicblue films

bluish in colour or having parts or marks that are bluisha blue fox; a blue whale

rare aristocratic; noble; patriciana blue family See blue blood

US relating to, supporting, or representing the Democratic PartyCompare red 1 (def. 18)

verb blues, blueing, bluing or blued

to make, dye, or become blue

(tr) to treat (laundry) with blueing

(tr) slang to spend extravagantly or wastefully; squander

Derived forms of blue

bluely, adverbblueness, noun

Word Origin for blue

C13: from Old French bleu, of Germanic origin; compare Old Norse blār, Old High German blāo, Middle Dutch blā; related to Latin flāvus yellow

British Dictionary definitions for blues (4 of 4)

Blue

Bluey

/ (bluː) /

noun

Australian informal a nickname for a person with red hair

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Cultural definitions for blues

blues

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.

Idioms and Phrases with blues (1 of 2)

blues

see have the blues.

Idioms and Phrases with blues (2 of 2)

blue

In addition to the idioms beginning with blue

blue funk, in a
blue in the face

also see:

between a rock and a hard place (devil and deep blue sea)
black and blue
bolt from the blue
have the blues
into thin air (the blue)
like greased lightning (a blue streak)
once in a blue moon
out of a clear blue sky
talk one's arm off (a blue streak
until blue in the face)

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blues

noun

QUIZZES

DO YOU KNOW THIS VOCABULARY FROM "THE HANDMAID'S TALE"?

Origin of blues

OTHER WORDS FROM blues

Words nearby blues

Definition for blues (2 of 3)

noun (used with a plural verb)

Origin of blues

Definition for blues (3 of 3)

noun

adjective, blu·er, blu·est.

verb (used with object), blued, blu·ing or blue·ing.

verb (used without object), blued, blu·ing or blue·ing.

Origin of blue

SYNONYMS FOR blue

ANTONYMS FOR blue

OTHER WORDS FROM blue

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH blue

Words related to blues

Example sentences from the Web for blues

British Dictionary definitions for blues (1 of 4)

pl n the blues (sometimes functioning as singular)

Derived forms of blues

British Dictionary definitions for blues (2 of 4)

pl n

British Dictionary definitions for blues (3 of 4)

noun

adjective bluer or bluest

verb blues, blueing, bluing or blued

Derived forms of blue

Word Origin for blue

British Dictionary definitions for blues (4 of 4)

Bluey

noun

Cultural definitions for blues

Idioms and Phrases with blues (1 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with blues (2 of 2)