blues

¹ American  

[blooz] / bluz /

noun

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

   This rainy spell is giving me the blues.

2. (used with a singular verb)

   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.

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blues ² American  

[blooz] / bluz /

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.

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blues ¹ British  

/ 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

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Blues ² British  

/ bluːz /

plural noun

1. the Royal Horse Guards

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blues Cultural  

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.

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blues Idioms  

1. see have the blues.

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Other Word Forms

• bluesy adjective

Etymology

Origin of blues¹

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

Origin of blues¹

blue, -s ³

Example Sentences

It links West African traditional spirituality and it connects it to hip-hop and blues and all these different types of dance and culture.

From Los Angeles Times

He also highlighted the charity's guide on "how to get through the winter blues".

From BBC

That ability, rather than just technique, the story suggests, is what made Johnson special and fueled the blues.

From The Wall Street Journal

Indeed, the Grammys ballot has long featured separate categories for traditional blues and contemporary blues and for R&B of the traditional and progressive persuasions.

From Los Angeles Times

Listeners spent summer nights with jazz greats and blues artists.

From The Wall Street Journal