Definition of 'blue'

Word Frequency

blue

(bluː )

Word forms: comparative bluer , superlative bluest , plural blues

1. colour

Something that is blue is the colour of the sky on a sunny day.

There were swallows in the cloudless blue sky.

She fixed her pale blue eyes on her father's.

...colourful blues and reds.

2. plural noun

The blues is a type of music which was developed by African American musicians in the southern United States. It is characterized by a slow tempo and a strong rhythm.

His singing really does have the depth and the emotional range of the blues.

...the blues bars of Chicago.

3. plural noun

If you have got the blues, you feel sad and depressed.

[informal]

He's been suffering from the blues since losing his job.

4. adjective [verb-link ADJECTIVE]

If you are feeling blue, you are feeling sad or depressed, often when there is no particular reason.

[informal]

There's no earthly reason for me to feel so blue.

Synonyms: depressed, low, sad, unhappy More Synonyms of blue

5. countable noun [usually supplement NOUN]

A Cambridge blue or an Oxford blue is a man or woman who has played for Cambridge or Oxford University in a particular sport.

[British]

6. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]

Blue films, stories, or jokes are about sex.

...a secret stash of porn mags and blue movies.

Synonyms: smutty, dirty, naughty, obscene More Synonyms of blue

See out of the blue

8. bolt from the blue

9. blue moon

10. blue murder

More Synonyms of blue

Video: pronunciation of
blue

blue in British English

(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 colours

▶ Related adjective: cyanic

a dye or pigment of any of these colours

blue cloth or clothing

dressed in blue

a person who represents or has represented Oxford or Cambridge University in a sport 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

5. British an informal name for Tory

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

7. archaic short for bluestocking

8. slang

a police officer

9. archery

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

10.

a blue ball in snooker, etc

11. another name for blueing

12. Australian and New Zealand slang

an argument or fight

he had a blue with a taxi driver

13. Also: bluey Australian and New Zealand slang

a court summons, esp for a traffic offence

14. Australian and New Zealand informal

a mistake; error

15. out of the blue

16. into the blue

adjectiveWord forms: bluer or bluest

17.

of the colour blue

18.

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

19.

depressed, moody, or unhappy

20.

dismal or depressing

a blue day

21.

indecent, titillating, or pornographic

blue films

22.

bluish in colour or having parts or marks that are bluish

a blue fox

a blue whale

23. rare

aristocratic; noble; patrician

a blue family

blue blood

24. US

relating to, supporting, or representing the Democratic Party

Compare red1 (sense 18)

verbWord forms: blues, blueing, bluing or blued

25.

to make, dye, or become blue

26. (transitive)

to treat ( laundry) with blueing

27. (transitive) slang

to spend extravagantly or wastefully; squander

Derived forms

bluely (ˈbluely)

adverb

blueness (ˈblueness)

noun

Word origin

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

Word Frequency

Blue in British English

(bluː ) or Bluey

noun

Australian informal

a nickname for a person with red hair

Word Frequency

blue in American English

(blu )

adjective

having the color of the clear sky or the deep sea

having a bluish cast or tinge

livid

said of the skin

sad and gloomy; depressed or depressing

balefully murky

the air was blue with oaths

puritanical; rigorous

wearing blue garments

Blue Nuns

8. Informal

indecent; risqué; suggestive

noun

the color of the clear sky or the deep sea; any color between green and violet in the spectrum

10.

any blue pigment or dye

11.

bluing

12.

anything colored blue, as the third circle of an archer's target

13.

blue clothing

b. [often B-]

a person or group wearing a blue uniform

c. US; [often B-]

a Union soldier

d. [pl.]

a sailor's blue uniform

14.

bluestocking

15. US

bluefish

16.

blueline

usually used in pl.

verb transitive, verb intransitiveWord forms: blued, ˈbluing or ˈblueing

17.

to make or become blue

Idioms:

out of the blue

the blue

Word origin

ME & OFr bleu < Frank *blao < IE base *bhlē-wos, light-colored, blue, blond, yellow > L flavus, yellow, Brythonic blawr, gray, OE blæwen, blue, Ger blau; (sense 3) infl. by ME blo < ON blā, livid

Example sentences including
blue

These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content. Read more…

One had blue eyes and blond hair and spoke with a northern accent.One was blue and white plaid and the second was dark blue with red dots. Symptoms include red and blue spots and instant hair loss.Dark navy and sky blue both look chic teamed with greys and silvers to add a touch of class.And they were not wearing blue.When the plants were placed in bright light, their blue colour slowly disappeared.Also available in green, blue and white.Looks it was clear blue sighs all round yesterday, then.Songs were picked from pop, rock, rap and rhythm and blues.THEY love their local heroes in Merseyside derbies - and they have been waiting long enough for one in a blue shirt.