Dictionary

blue en · ADJ · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• blyo͞o (obsolete)
• (UK) audio
• (Australia) audio
• (US) audio
• /bluː/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /bljuː/ (obsolete)
• /blʉː/ (Australia)
• /blʉ/ (Northern-Ireland, Scotland)
• /blʉw/ (British, Southern, Standard)
• /blu/ (Canada, US)
• blo͞o

Etymology

From Middle English blew, blewe, from Anglo-Norman blew, from Middle French bleu, from Old French blöe, bleve, blef (“blue”), from Frankish *blāu (“blue”) (perhaps through a Late Latin blāvus, blāvius (“blue”) attested from Isidore of Seville), from Proto-Germanic *blēwaz (“blue, dark blue”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰlēw- (“yellow, blond, grey”). Cognate with dialectal English blow (“blue”), Scots blue, blew (“blue”), North Frisian bla, blö (“blue”), Saterland Frisian blau (“blue”), Dutch blauw (“blue”), German blau (“blue”), Danish, Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk, and Swedish blå (“blue”), Faroese bláur (“blue”), Icelandic blár (“blue”), Latin flāvus (“yellow”), French bleu (“blue”), Middle Irish blá (“yellow”). Doublet of blow. Possibly related also to English blee (“colour”), from Old English blēo (“colour”); but direct derivatives of Proto-Germanic *blēwaz (“blue, dark blue”) in Old English include: Old English blāw and blēo (“blue”), Old English blǣwen (“bluish, light-blue”), blǣhǣwen (“blue-coloured, bluish, violet or purple colour”, literally “blue-hued”). There seems to be a parallel connection in Germanic between words for blue and colour, dually exemplified by Proto-West Germanic *blīu (“colour, blee”) and *blāu (“blue”); and Proto-Germanic *hiwją (“colour, hue”) and *hāwī (“blue, purple”). (depressed): Compare typologically Russian тоска́ зелёная (toská zeljónaja) (<+ зелёный (zeljónyj)). Also compare фиоле́тово (fiolétovo).

Meanings

1. Of a blue hue.
   • He was wearing a blue t-shirt.
   • Why is the sky blue?
   • Gerty's were of the bluest Irish blue, set off by lustrous lashes and dark expressive brows. Time was when those brows were not so silkily seductive 1922 February 2, James Joyce, “[Episode 13]”, in Ulysses, Paris: Shakespeare and Company […], →OCLC:
   • the deep blue sea
2. (informal) Depressed, melancholic, sad.
   • But I'm bluer than blue / Sadder than sad. 1978, Michael Johnson, Bluer Than Blue:
   • “Heavens!” exclaimed Nina, “the blue-stocking and the fogy!—and yours are pale blue, Eileen!—you’re about as self-conscious as Drina—slumping there with your hair tumbling à la Mérode! Oh, it's very picturesque, of course, but a straight spine and good grooming is better.[…]” 1907 August, Robert W[illiam] Chambers, chapter IX, in The Younger Set, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLC:
   • "Will you play some of the 'Garden' now?" she asked. "I think I should like it. I'm just the least bit blue." 1904, Guy Wetmore Carryl, The Transgression of Andrew Vane, Henry Holt and Company, page 140:
3. Having a bluish or purplish shade to the skin due to a lack of oxygen to the normally deep-red red blood cells; cyanotic.
   • My hands were blue with cold.
   • The divers got them out of the car just in time – they were starting to turn blue.
4. (of a flame) Pale, without redness or glare.
   • The candle burns blue.
5. (US) Supportive of, run by (a member of), pertaining to, or dominated by a political party represented by the colour blue. ▸ Supportive of, run by (a member of), pertaining to, or dominated by the Democratic Party.
   • I live in a blue constituency.  Congress turned blue in the mid-term elections.
6. (Australian) Supportive of, run by (a member of), pertaining to, or dominated by a political party represented by the colour blue. ▸ Supportive of or related to the Liberal Party.
   • Illawarra turns blue in Liberal washout
7. (UK) Supportive of, run by (a member of), pertaining to, or dominated by a political party represented by the colour blue. ▸ Supportive of or related to the Conservative Party.
8. Of, dominated by, or shifted toward the higher-frequency, or "bluer", end of the electromagnetic spectrum.
9. (particle) Having a colour charge of blue.
10. (of steak) Extra rare; left very raw and cold.
11. (of a dog or cat) Having a coat of fur of a slaty gray shade.
12. (archaic) Severe or overly strict in morals; gloomy.
    • blue and sour religionists;  blue laws
13. (archaic, of women) Literary; scholarly; bluestockinged.
    • Some of the ladies were very blue and well informed, reading Mrs. Somerville and frequenting the Royal Institution; others were severe and Evangelical, and held by Exeter Hall. 1847 January – 1848 July, William Makepeace Thackeray, chapter 61, in Vanity Fair […], London: Bradbury and Evans […], published 1848, →OCLC:
14. (informal) Risqué; obscene; profane; pornographic.
    • The air was blue with oaths.
    • a blue movie
    • His material is too blue for prime time.
15. (dated, slang) Drunk.
    • My wine I drank and oft got blue / On brandy, gin and whisky too— / Until my reputation gay, / Along with care, was cast away — 1847, Jacob Carter, My Drunken Life, in Fifteen Chapters, from 1825 to 1847, page 76:

Forms

Antonyms

nonblue (antonym(s) of “of a blue hue”) · antiblue (antonym(s) of “having blue as its colour charge”) · Republican (antonym(s) of “pertaining to the US Democratic Party”) · unblue (antonym(s) of “of a blue hue”) · conservative (antonym(s) of “pertaining to the US Democratic Party”) · red (antonym(s) of “pertaining to the US Democratic Party”) · red (antonym(s) of “dominated by higher-frequency electromagnetic radiation”)

Descendants

buluug · buluu · bluu · puluh · bulu · bururu · blu · bhuluu

Synonyms

threnetical · sullen · atrabiliary · joyless · cerulean · atrabilious · despondent · tristful · infelicitous · elegious · melancholy · jawfallen · woeful · downcast · sapphire · querulous · unlively · cheerless · doleful · shattered · solemn · down · crestfallen · cut up · triste · depressed · saturnine · downhearted · spiritless · melancholic · uncheerful · disconsolate · Plutonic · disgruntled · low · glum · heartsore · navy · damp · forlorn · unhappy · dispirited · chapfallen · sorrow-ridden · threnetic · Plutonian · unhappy · wretched · gloomy · morose · downsome · X-rated · lugubrious · azure · plaintive · wistful · adult (pornographic) · miserable · bummed out · moody · lumpish · ruthful · uncheery · woe · grief-stricken · low-spirited · sad · saddened · down in the dumps · passionate · unconsolable · lamentful · blue · mournful · mooing · sombre · heartsick · miserable · woebegone · chopfallen · lachrymose · blitheless · dull · dismal · mopey · down in the mouth · sorrowful · sorrowsome · heavy-hearted · inconsolable · grieving · dejected · elegiac · dolesome · disheartened

Translations (443)

mt ikħal (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · osx blāo (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · sro blàu (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · zh 藍色 /蓝色 (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · de blau (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · fi demokraattinen (of or pertaining to US Democratic Party) · pt cerúleo (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · zh 藍色 /蓝色 (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · hu pornográf (pornographic) · eo malgaja (depressed) · sn bhuluu (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · tr durgun (depressed) · sq blu (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · win coo (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · scn arzolu (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · frr blä (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · es blao (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · dv ނޫ (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · az mavi (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · lv zils (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · mk син (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · hy կապույտ (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · tk gök (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · jje 푸리다 (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · mnc ᠯᠠᠮᡠᠨ (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · ru си́ний (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · tpi blupela (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · vi màu xanh nước biển (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · lbj སྔོན་པོ (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · pt deprimido (depressed) · pl błękitny (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · ln bozinga (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · sq kaltër (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · goh blāo (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · ru уны́лый (depressed) · oc blau (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · te నీలము (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · rup yalan (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · apw dotłʼizhihíí (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · es deprimido (depressed) · sh plȃv (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · nds blau (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · ceb bughaw (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · scn blu (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · pt azulado (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · uz gʻamgin (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · pam iro (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · yai кабут (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · to lanu-moana (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · cst nese (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · su bulao (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · mg manga (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · sh мо̏дар (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · sva ჲჷრჟი (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · pt profano (pornographic) · pt pornô (pornographic) · vo blövik (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · ur نِیلا (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · sw buluu (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · yo dúdú (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · de traurig (depressed) · stq blau (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · es triste (depressed) · ky бачабас (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · ru лазу́рный (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · hu disznó (pornographic) · la caerulus (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · ja 青い (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · udm лыз (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · gd liath (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · ko 아쉽다 (depressed) · bg уни́л (depressed) · oc blava (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · is blár (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · gv breinn (pornographic) · zh 下流的 (pornographic) · se alit (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · an azul (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · nl terneergeslagen (depressed) · ak bibir (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · mi ōrangiuri (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · yue 藍色嘅 /蓝色嘅 (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · ba күк (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · he כָּחוֹל (pornographic) · osx blāu (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · zdj -a bile (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · sc biaittu (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · fr démocrate (of or pertaining to US Democratic Party) · de depressiv (depressed) · aii ܡܝܼܠܵܐ (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · ml നീല (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · naq ǂkhoā (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · jv biru (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · ky көк (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · ace belau (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · lad mavi (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · rsk белави (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · uk порнографі́чний (pornographic) · izh siniin (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · ktu bule (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · ar أَزْرَق (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · eo pipra (pornographic) · eo trista (depressed) · th น้ำเงิน (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · sk modrý (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · sms ââˊliǩ (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · ln bule (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · ro azuriu (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · pdc bloh (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · fi porno- (pornographic) · sv deprimerad (depressed) · ttt kour (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · ps شنه (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · ne नीलो (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · uz koʻk (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · el μπλε (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · ga gorm (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · nb blå (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · nds blao (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · rm blo (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · kjh кӧк (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · hu szomorú (depressed) · ko 원색적 (pornographic) · ar حَزِين (depressed) · kk көк (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · ar أزرگ (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · lou blé (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · ro trist (depressed) · th ฟ้า (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · lb blo (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · de niedergeschlagen (depressed) · tly kavu (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · mr निळा (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · vi chán nản (depressed) · sw bluu (pornographic) · tvl pulú (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · ak bruu (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · he כְּחוּלָה (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · lou ble (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · be блакі́тны (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · hsb módry (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · pt azul (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · yue 藍 /蓝 (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · xdq хьацӏ (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · hu erotikus (pornographic) · uk блаки́тний (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · tr kırmızı noktalı (pornographic) · uk лазу́рний (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · fa کَبود (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · bg депреси́ран (depressed) · mi ōrangi (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · zza kebud (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · mn цэнхэр (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · he תְּכֵלֶת (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · cv кӑвак (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · si නිල් (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · hu levert (depressed) · pa ਨੀਲੀਆਂ (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · lo ນ້ຳເງິນ (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · rcf blé (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · sma plaave (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · rup albastru (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · ko 우울하다 (depressed) · ofs blāu (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · la venetus (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · fi pornografinen (pornographic) · ja 青の (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · kmr şîn (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · zu -luhlaza (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · ru порнографи́ческий (pornographic) · mt iżraq (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · ky көгүлтүр (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · vi xanh lam (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · ja ブルーな (depressed) · mi kahurangi (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · cy glas (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · mk модар (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · oj ozhaawashkozi (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · lad blö (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · aii ܙܪܘܿܩܬܵܐ (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · nah texohtic (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · srn blaw (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · ko 파랗다 (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · nds blo' (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · as নীলা (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · es melancólico (depressed) · txb tseṃ (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · es celeste (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · uk голуби́й (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · pt borocoxô (depressed) · chg کُوکْ (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · sw bluu (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · uli haarawraw (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · ar زرقا (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · ca verd (pornographic) · fa اَفْسُرْدِه (depressed) · fy blau (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · he כָּחוֹל (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · it blu (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · sc blàu (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · cop ⲁⲥⲓⲗⲱⲛ (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · aii ܙܪܘܿܩܵܐ (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · tr mavi (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · evn чулама (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · am ሰማያዊ (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · hop sakwa (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · st setala (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · it azzurro (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · pam mairo (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · gv trome-chreeagh (depressed) · es verde (pornographic) · lad blu (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · be парнаграфі́чны (pornographic) · io blua (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · uk сумни́й (depressed) · haw uliuli (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · ckb شین (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · pot wichapwak (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · pt pornográfico (pornographic) · eve чулбаня (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · zh 藍 /蓝 (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · ps شين (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · kaw biru (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · tr sıkıntılı (depressed) · grc κυάνεος (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · eo deprimita (depressed) · de schwermütig (depressed) · ar أزرق (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · ofs blāw (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · ood anilhmagi (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · tr hüzünlü (depressed) · wym błöw (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · pt melancólico (depressed) · tr demokrat (of or pertaining to US Democratic Party) · dz ཧོནམོ། (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · frr ween (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · ti ሰማያዊ (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · kg bule (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · eo morna (depressed) · ca blau (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · gv gorrym (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · tl bughaw (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · br glas (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · tr efkarlı (depressed) · rm blov (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · cs modrý (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · ar زرق (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · vot sinin (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · sh пла̑в (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · fi sininen (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · my ပြာ (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · alt кӧк (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · vi chán (depressed) · vo yulibik (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · ty nīnamu (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · it malinconico (depressed) · da blå (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · fa غَمْگین (depressed) · ka ცისფერი (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · fa آبی (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · arn kallfü (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · oj ozhaawashkwaa (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · ms biru (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · ru печа́льный (depressed) · vro sinine (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · ss bulâ (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · bo སྔོན་པོ (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · mdf сенем (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · ay larama (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · eu urdin (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · nv dootłʼizh (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · tyv көк (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · hu rosszkedvű (depressed) · tt зәңгәр (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · pam mayiro (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · rm blau (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · tg нилобӣ (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · pdt bleiw (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · pot wshkëbgeze (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · bg лазу́рен (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · id mesum (pornographic) · ko 슬프다 (depressed) · jje 퍼렁ᄒᆞ다 (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · ltg zyls (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · st tala (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · ar أزرق (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · ko 외설스럽다 (pornographic) · sro asùlu (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · frr wjin (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · sdn biaittu (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · pap blou (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · szl modry (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · vi thất vọng (depressed) · lus ngui (depressed) · liv siņņi (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · bua хүхэ (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · pt triste (depressed) · pau mellemáu (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · ug كۆك (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · mww xiav (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · yo búlúù (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · zku kardalta (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · ru гру́стный (depressed) · frr weeden (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · rup cucav (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · mfe ble (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · ab аиаҵәа (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · mt blu (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · uz moviy (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · fi alavireinen (depressed) · so buluug (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · sh mȍdar (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · pl niebieski (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · oj ozhaawashko- (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · hmv xiav (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · ky көгүш (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · ko 푸르다 (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · crh mavı (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · my အပြာ (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · be сі́ні (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · ang hǣwen (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · li blauw (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · uk си́ній (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · km ខៀវ (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · yi בלאָ (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · id biru (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · sw bluu (of or pertaining to US Democratic Party) · af blou (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · ja 憂鬱な (depressed) · mn хөх (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · sa नील (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · fi alakuloinen (depressed) · eo malĝoja (depressed) · bi blu (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · gd gorm (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · wo baxa (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · xsv gālimbias (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · la blavus (la-lat) (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · eo blua (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · cic okchamali' (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · otk 𐰚𐰇𐰚 (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · gur sab-puko (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · fo blátt (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · et sinine (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · gl azul (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · sce kugie (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · km ប៊្លូ (depressed) · mh būļu (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · ceb asul (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · ar زرقا (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · bg поти́снат (depressed) · kl tungujortoq (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · be лазу́рны (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · ang bleo (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · tg кабуд (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · ru демократи́ческий (of or pertaining to US Democratic Party) · lt mė́lynas (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · it triste (depressed) · hu kék (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · de blaaw (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · la cyaneus (cyan) (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · fr bleu (of or pertaining to US Democratic Party) · rup njirlu (roa-rup) (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · pa ਨੀਲਾ (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · ka ლურჯი (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · kn ನೀಲಿ (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · la lividus (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · vi Dân chủ (of or pertaining to US Democratic Party) · sdc biaittu (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · xal көк (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · nog коьк (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · chr ᏌᎪᏂᎨᎢ (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · jje 파랑ᄒᆞ다 (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · az göy (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · hrx blau (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · lus dumpäwl (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · bn নীল (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · tpi blu (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · myv сэнь (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · fr déprimé (depressed) · izh alakuloin (depressed) · nds blaag (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · mi kikorangi (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · ar زرقا (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · ro deprimat (depressed) · hi नीला (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · tg обӣ (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · nl depressief (depressed) · ru голубо́й (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · kpv лӧз (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · ru си́ний (of or pertaining to US Democratic Party) · it a luci rosse (pornographic) · la caeruleus (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · la glaucus (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · la azurinus (lapis, ML.) (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · ce сийна (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · hi ब्लू (pornographic) · pa ਨੀਲੀ (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · ta நீலம் (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · tr gökçe (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · rif azeyza (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · ast azul (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · os цъӕх (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · cjs кӧк (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · fo blá (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · scn azzolu (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · sva დეცე ფერიშ (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · fi melankolinen (depressed) · sw bluu (depressed) · tl asul (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · ja ピンク (pornographic) · bg син (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · ig alulu (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · hu lehangolt (depressed) · sv blå (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · eo pika (pornographic) · yao òfáfeàwò (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · gil mawaawa (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · ht ble (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · es azul (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · lo ຟ້າ (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · co turchinu (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · ms belau (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · sl moder (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · pa ਨੀਲੇ (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · vi (màu) xanh (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · ar زَرْگَا (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · it depresso (depressed) · vi buồn (depressed) · qu anqas (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · sc asùlu (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · sah күөх (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · ko 도색적 (pornographic) · nl blauw (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · fo bláur (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · dsb módry (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · ro albastru (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · fr bleu (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · pot wshkëbgya (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · xh luhlaza (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · mi purū (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · mk плав (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue) · ia blau (blue-coloured — see also dark blue, light blue)

blue en · NOUN · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• blyo͞o (obsolete)
• (UK) audio
• (Australia) audio
• (US) audio
• /bluː/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /bljuː/ (obsolete)
• /blʉː/ (Australia)
• /blʉ/ (Northern-Ireland, Scotland)
• /blʉw/ (British, Southern, Standard)
• /blu/ (Canada, US)
• blo͞o

Etymology

From Middle English blew, blewe, from Anglo-Norman blew, from Middle French bleu, from Old French blöe, bleve, blef (“blue”), from Frankish *blāu (“blue”) (perhaps through a Late Latin blāvus, blāvius (“blue”) attested from Isidore of Seville), from Proto-Germanic *blēwaz (“blue, dark blue”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰlēw- (“yellow, blond, grey”). Cognate with dialectal English blow (“blue”), Scots blue, blew (“blue”), North Frisian bla, blö (“blue”), Saterland Frisian blau (“blue”), Dutch blauw (“blue”), German blau (“blue”), Danish, Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk, and Swedish blå (“blue”), Faroese bláur (“blue”), Icelandic blár (“blue”), Latin flāvus (“yellow”), French bleu (“blue”), Middle Irish blá (“yellow”). Doublet of blow. Possibly related also to English blee (“colour”), from Old English blēo (“colour”); but direct derivatives of Proto-Germanic *blēwaz (“blue, dark blue”) in Old English include: Old English blāw and blēo (“blue”), Old English blǣwen (“bluish, light-blue”), blǣhǣwen (“blue-coloured, bluish, violet or purple colour”, literally “blue-hued”). There seems to be a parallel connection in Germanic between words for blue and colour, dually exemplified by Proto-West Germanic *blīu (“colour, blee”) and *blāu (“blue”); and Proto-Germanic *hiwją (“colour, hue”) and *hāwī (“blue, purple”). (depressed): Compare typologically Russian тоска́ зелёная (toská zeljónaja) (<+ зелёный (zeljónyj)). Also compare фиоле́тово (fiolétovo).

Meanings

1. (countable, uncountable) The colour of the clear sky or the deep sea; the colour midway between green and violet in the visible spectrum and one of the primary additive colours.
   • She watches the yachts in the creamy evening blues. 2004, David Mitchell, Cloud Atlas, London: Sceptre (Hodder and Stoughton), →ISBN:
   • Lady Penrhyn was quite handsome enough to have spared one ingredient in her cup of fascination, but, unfortunately, having been married in her teens, she expected to live in them, and, never being reminded by the trials to which her sex is subject, of the flight of years, and the inroads of suffering, expected time to stand still, and the first bloom of existence (the blue on the plum) to remain as stationary as her own taste, for the pleasures of flirtation. 1838 (date written), L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter XVI, in Lady Anne Granard; or, Keeping up Appearances. […], volume I, London: Henry Colburn, […], published 1842, →OCLC, page 204:
   • Red No. 3, red No. 40, blue No. 2 and green No. 3 all have been linked with cancer or tumors in animals. Other sources say red No. 40 and yellow No. 5 and No. 6 contain or may be contaminated with known carcinogens. 2025 March 29, Kristen Rogers, “Over half of US states are trying to eliminate food dyes. Here’s what you can do now”, in CNN:
2. (countable, uncountable) Anything coloured blue, especially to distinguish it from similar objects differing only in colour.
   • I don't like red Smarties. Have you got a blue?
3. (countable, uncountable) A blue dye or pigment.
4. (uncountable) Blue clothing.
   • The boys in blue marched to the pipers.
5. (countable, in-plural, uncountable) Blue clothing. ▸ A blue uniform. See blues.
6. (countable, uncountable) Blue clothing. ▸ A member of a sports team that wears blue colours; (in the plural) a nickname for the team as a whole. See also blues.
   • Come on, you blues!
7. (countable, slang, uncountable) Blue clothing. ▸ An umpire, in reference to the typical dark-blue colour of the umpire's uniform. Sometimes perceived by umpires as derogatory when used by players or coaches while disputing a call.
   • He was safe! Terrible call, blue!
8. (countable, uncountable) Blue clothing. ▸ Sporting colours awarded by a university or other institution for sporting achievement, such as representing one's university, especially and originally at Oxford and Cambridge Universities in England. See also full blue, half blue.
   • He excelled at rowing and received a blue in the sport at Oxford.
9. (countable, uncountable) Blue clothing. ▸ A person who has received such sporting colours.
   • He was a rugby blue at Cambridge.
10. (countable, slang, uncountable) Blue clothing. ▸ A member of law enforcement.
    • He dialed Kathy to be sure she was okay and see if the blues arrived. She was crying when she picked up the phone. “Kathy, honey, I'm here. It'll be okay. Are the police there?” 2022, Jim Malloy, Die, Mother Goose, Die:
11. (countable, historical, uncountable) Blue clothing. ▸ A bluestocking.
12. (countable, uncountable) The sky, literally or figuratively.
    • The balloon floated up into the blue.
    • His request for leave came out of the blue.
13. (countable, uncountable) The ocean; deep waters.
14. (countable, uncountable) The far distance; a remote or distant place.
    • The problem with buffalo as well as most African antelopes as a steady diet is that they have very little marbling or body fat and, after six months out in the blue, one dreams at night of a T-bone steak sizzling in great globules of yellow fat. 1978, Peter Hathaway Capstick, Death in the Long Grass, →ISBN:
15. (countable, uncountable) A dog or cat with a slaty gray coat.
    • On average, blues and other dilutes have weaker coats and skin problems seem more prevalent in the dilutes. 2000, Joe Stahlkuppe, American Pit Bull Terrier Handbook, page 131:
16. (countable, uncountable) One of the colour balls used in snooker, with a value of five points.
17. (countable, uncountable) Any of the butterflies of the subfamily Polyommatinae in the family Lycaenidae, most of which have blue on their wings.
    • The large and handsome spectre-butterfly, Hestia durvillei; the pale-winged peacock butterfly, Drusilla catops; and the most brilliant and wonderful of the clear-winged moths, Cocytia durvillei, were especially interesting, as well, as several little "blues," equalling in brilliancy and beauty anything the butterfly world can produce. 1869, Alfred Russel Wallace, The Malay Archipelago, volume II, London: Macmillan and Co., page 199:
18. (countable, uncountable) A bluefish.
    • When snow falls on the roses, when a mako is beheaded, when the weaks and blues swim south 1974 February 2, Roger Frye, “Warm Heart”, in Gay Community News, volume 1, number 32, page 20:
    • Blues are about as vicious a fish as you'll find on the Atlantic seaboard — they will continue to slash through schools of bait even after they have eaten so much that they're constantly regurgitating shredded baitfish. 2012, Lenny Rudow, Rudow's Guide to Fishing the Mid Atlantic, page 102:
19. (Australia, colloquial, countable, uncountable) An argument or brawl.
    • "I had a blue with Dad," said Fay. "He wanted to drive us, I wanted to walk." 2004, Tim Winton, The Turning (short stories), Picador UK Paperback edition 2006. Short story, 'Small Mercies' (at p.91)
    • On another occasion, there was a blue between Henry Daniels and Merv Wilson down at the pig sale. I don′t know what it was about, it only lasted a minute or so, but they shook hands when it was over and that was the end of it. 2009, John Gilfoyle, Remember Cannon Hill, page 102:
    • I was a bit disappointed. Was that it? No abuse like Lord Byron had endured? Not that I was wishing that upon myself. It was just that a blue between my parents, albeit a raging, foul, bile-spitting hate fest, was not exactly Charles Dickens. 2011, Julietta Jameson, Me, Myself and Lord Byron, unnumbered page:
    • If they had a blue between themselves, they kept it there, it never flowed out onto the streets to innocent people — like a lot of things that have been happenin′ on the streets today. 2008, Cheryl Jorgensen, The Taint, page 135:
20. (countable, uncountable) A liquid with an intense blue colour, added to a laundry wash to prevent yellowing of white clothes.
    • It was applied methodically, carefully, resolutely, as in the fashion of a Satin-bird with charcoal, desiccated wood or blue from laundry-bags. 1948, Alec H. Chisholm, Bird Wonders of Australia, page 13:
21. (countable, uncountable) Any of several processes to protect metal against rust.
22. (UK, countable, uncountable) A type of firecracker.
    • Lord Lyttelton's Life by Dr Johnson […] which a whole tribe of Blues, with Mrs Montagu at their Head, have Vowed to execrate and revenge […] 1781, Frances Burney, Journals & Letters, Penguin, published 2001, page 172:
23. (countable, particle, uncountable) One of the three colour charges for quarks.
24. (UK, countable, uncountable) A member or supporter of the Conservative Party.
    • He is a true blue.
25. (countable, uncountable) A blue cheese.
    • "No, just get over here. You need to try this one!" she exclaimed as she cheesed up a chunk of bread with one of our blues. 2005, J. B. Dann, Anecdotal, page 233:
    • Blues are made via the introduction of molds from the genus Penicillum roqueforti, which are normally added to the milk toward the beginning of the cheesemaking process. 2012, Culture Magazine, Laurel Miller, Thalassa Skinner, Cheese For Dummies (page 55)
26. (slang, uncountable) Risqué or pornographic material.
    • Fuzz grinned and nodded at the stage. 'Bit of blue for the lads.' […] The stage was dimly lit, and populated by Nubian slaves and harem girls in artfully draped deshabille. 2014 February 5, Charlie Flowers, Kill Order, Lulu.com, →ISBN, page 176:
    • Improvising freely, he entered the stage with a karaoke set and introduced himself as a 'Bohemian street performer', before launching into a series of clubstyle gags and one-liners, promising 'a bit of blue for the Dads'[…] 2009 February 25, S. Purcell, Popular Shakespeare: Simulation and Subversion on the Modern Stage, Springer, →ISBN, page 51:

Forms

Hypernyms

hue · pigment · color

Relateds

lapis lazuli · cornflower · green · red · denim · orange · white · cobalt · yellow · periwinkle · sapphire · violet

Synonyms

bluer · cyan · blueing · teal · blue · navy · royal · azure · aqua · cerulean · aquamarine · turquoise · sky blue · indigo · ultramarine

Translations (184)

haw uliuli (colour) · ckt ныԓиԓиԓӄин (colour) · yua ch'ooj (colour) · sc biaittu (colour) · no blå (colour) · ne नीलो (colour) · sw bluu (colour) · tr maviler (blue clothing) · ckb شین (colour) · tr maviler (ocean, deep waters) · fi sininen (snooker: ball with a value of 5 points) · tr mavili (anything blue) · ps شنه (colour) · ti ሰማያዊ (colour) · et sinine (colour) · kw glas (colour) · mh būļu (anything blue) · rcf blé (colour) · it azzurro (colour) · gu વાદળી (colour) · oc blau (colour) · sv blå (colour) · win coo (colour) · lb Blo (colour) · gl azul (colour) · tl bughaw (colour) · hu kék (colour) · ang blāw (colour) · chr ᏐᎪᏂᎨ (colour) · szl modry (colour) · be сі́ні (colour) · es celeste (colour) · nl blauwtje (butterfly of the subfamily Polyommatinae) · is blár (colour) · ka ლურჯი (colour) · he כַּחְלִיל (butterfly of the subfamily Polyommatinae) · non blár (colour) · fi sininen (colour) · fro bloe (colour) · hi आसमानी (anything blue) · rap moana (colour) · ce сийна (colour) · pt azul (colour) · tr gök (colour) · km ខៀវ (colour) · la caeruleus (colour) · mr निळा (colour) · fi sininen (blue pigment) · pa ਨੀਲਾ (colour) · th สีฟ้า (colour) · jv biru (colour) · eo bluo (colour) · af blou (colour) · ky көк (colour) · mt blu (colour) · fi sinisiipi (butterfly of the subfamily Polyommatinae) · sro asùlu (colour) · ja 紺 (colour) · fo bláur (colour) · tr mavi (colour) · ta நீலம் (colour) · sl modra (colour) · sk modrá (blue pigment) · mfe ble (colour) · sk modrá (colour) · my အပြာ (colour) · ps شين (anything blue) · fo blátt (colour) · rm blov (colour) · sdn biaittu (colour) · de Blau (colour) · lou ble (colour) · da blå (colour) · kk көк (colour) · nl blauw (blue clothing) · so buluug (colour) · lt mėlyna (colour) · az mavi (colour) · mt (azure) iżraq (colour) · ur نیلا (colour) · pt azul (blue pigment) · ml നീല (colour) · la caesius (colour) · ar أَزْرَق (colour) · ko 파랑 (colour) · or ନେଳି (colour) · ro albastru (colour) · it blu (colour) · fr bleu (colour) · da blåfugl (butterfly of the subfamily Polyommatinae) · ko 파란색 (colour) · sro blàu (colour) · lv zils (colour) · vo blöv (colour) · tr mavili (blue clothing) · nl blauw (colour) · mt ikħal (colour) · cop ⲁⲥⲓⲗⲱⲛ (colour) · fy blau (colour) · uk си́ній (colour) · tr çivit (liquid added to a laundry wash to prevent yellowing of white clothes) · haw polū (colour) · eu urdin (colour) · ps اسماني (anything blue) · yi בלוי (colour) · srn blaw (colour) · cy glas (colour) · cs modř (colour) · sc blàu (colour) · pl niebieski (colour) · vi xanh da trời (colour) · mk син (colour) · te నీలము (colour) · yue 藍色 /蓝色 (colour) · tr mavi (anything blue) · ar زرق (colour) · sdc biaittu (colour) · ast azul (colour) · tr gökçe (colour) · sk modré (blue clothing) · la glaucus (colour) · tg обӣ (colour) · tr mavilik (ocean, deep waters) · nv dootłʼizh (colour) · ps شنه (anything blue) · sh plava (colour) · ps شين (colour) · th สีน้ำเงิน (colour) · kw blou (colour) · id biru (colour) · fi sininen (anything blue) · tr ağartıcı (liquid added to a laundry wash to prevent yellowing of white clothes) · gd gorm (colour) · br glas (colour) · ug كۆك (colour) · hi आसमानी (colour) · fi avomeri (ocean, deep waters) · lou blé (colour) · tr kök (colour) · zh 藍色 /蓝色 (colour) · tl asul (colour) · ca blau (colour) · an azul (colour) · vi (màu) xanh (colour) · wa bleu (colour) · pl błękit (colour) · mk сина (colour) · ru голубо́й (colour) · be блакі́тны (colour) · he תְּכֵלֶת (colour) · vo yulib (colour) · pl modraszek (butterfly of the subfamily Polyommatinae) · mh būļu (colour) · he כָּחוֹל (colour) · sh плава (colour) · ga gorm (colour) · ba зәңгәр (colour) · es azul (colour) · mi kahurangi (colour) · hy կապույտ (colour) · bg син (colour) · cop ⲁⲥⲓⲗⲟⲛ (colour) · ru си́ний (colour) · rm blau (colour) · fi sininen (blue clothing) · ms biru (colour) · fa آبی (colour) · nl blauw (blue pigment) · ood anilhmagi (colour) · uk блаки́тний (colour) · sv blåvinge (butterfly of the subfamily Polyommatinae) · ja 青 (colour) · sq kaltërt (colour) · shu ظهري (colour) · vi xanh lam (colour) · oj wezhaawashkozid (anything blue) · vi xanh nước biển (colour) · oj wezhaawashkwaag (anything blue) · el μπλε (colour) · gv gorrym (colour) · hi नीला (colour) · hi आबी (colour) · rm blo (colour) · sc asùlu (colour)

blue en · VERB · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• blyo͞o (obsolete)
• (UK) audio
• (Australia) audio
• (US) audio
• /bluː/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /bljuː/ (obsolete)
• /blʉː/ (Australia)
• /blʉ/ (Northern-Ireland, Scotland)
• /blʉw/ (British, Southern, Standard)
• /blu/ (Canada, US)
• blo͞o

Etymology

From Middle English blew, blewe, from Anglo-Norman blew, from Middle French bleu, from Old French blöe, bleve, blef (“blue”), from Frankish *blāu (“blue”) (perhaps through a Late Latin blāvus, blāvius (“blue”) attested from Isidore of Seville), from Proto-Germanic *blēwaz (“blue, dark blue”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰlēw- (“yellow, blond, grey”). Cognate with dialectal English blow (“blue”), Scots blue, blew (“blue”), North Frisian bla, blö (“blue”), Saterland Frisian blau (“blue”), Dutch blauw (“blue”), German blau (“blue”), Danish, Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk, and Swedish blå (“blue”), Faroese bláur (“blue”), Icelandic blár (“blue”), Latin flāvus (“yellow”), French bleu (“blue”), Middle Irish blá (“yellow”). Doublet of blow. Possibly related also to English blee (“colour”), from Old English blēo (“colour”); but direct derivatives of Proto-Germanic *blēwaz (“blue, dark blue”) in Old English include: Old English blāw and blēo (“blue”), Old English blǣwen (“bluish, light-blue”), blǣhǣwen (“blue-coloured, bluish, violet or purple colour”, literally “blue-hued”). There seems to be a parallel connection in Germanic between words for blue and colour, dually exemplified by Proto-West Germanic *blīu (“colour, blee”) and *blāu (“blue”); and Proto-Germanic *hiwją (“colour, hue”) and *hāwī (“blue, purple”). (depressed): Compare typologically Russian тоска́ зелёная (toská zeljónaja) (<+ зелёный (zeljónyj)). Also compare фиоле́тово (fiolétovo).

Meanings

1. (ergative) To make or become blue; to turn blue.
   • It blows, it snows, And blues your nose, My toes are all frost bitten The weather would Quite starve the crows, Or freeze the part you sit on. 1900 July 8, The Truth, Sydney, page 1, column 6:
   • Michael: As a member of the Blue Man Group?[…] Tobias: Oh, no, no, I’m not in the group yet. No, I’m afraid I just blue myself. 2004 November 7, Mitchell Hurwitz and Richard Rosenstock, “The One Where Michael Leaves”, in Arrested Development, season 2, episode 1, spoken by Tobias Fünke (David Cross):
   • The dawn is wanly blueing. 1921, D[avid] H[erbert] Lawrence, “The Sea”, in Sea and Sardinia, New York, N.Y.: Thomas Seltzer, →OCLC, page 48:
2. (transitive) To treat the surface of steel so that it is passivated chemically and becomes more resistant to rust.
3. (qualifier:laundry, transitive) To brighten by treating with blue (laundry aid).
4. (Australia, intransitive, slang) To fight, brawl, or argue.
   • It was years since Ken had flogged her up, but blueing with him still made her ache. 2018, Melissa Lucashenko, Too Much Lip, University of Queensland Press, published 2023, page 146:

Forms

Deriveds (first 500 of 747)

Blue Andalusian · Persian blue · wine-blue · blue wall · blue bugle · blue tick · blue sage · blue flu · bluehearts · blue Monday · Turkey blue · Blue Earth · once in a blue moon · Mayan blue · bluehead · winter blue · blue blossom Ceanothus thyrsiflorus) · blue potato · blue bonnet · Blue Earth County · steel-blue · bluehair · Kerry Blue Terrier · china blue · USPS blue box · blue waxweed · Queensland Blue · Blue-Green alliance · blue tet · Blue Hen's Chicken · turn the air blue · Eton blue · Blue Mountains National Park · blue diaper syndrome · blue riverdamsel · Blue Mountain · Blue-Tooner · blue-eyed boy · baby blue eyes etc · Egyptian blue · Majorelle blue · blue flyer · blue daze · blue vanda · until one is blue in the face · Blue Mountains · blue weed · Blue Lodge · blue jack · thymol blue · blue-water · blue shift · Venice blue · bluewing · iron blue · blue Smarties · blue creeping gromwell · dark-blue snakeweed · bluecomb · blue screen of death · Blue Nile · dolly blue · Silverblu · blue-green deployment · blue drawers · fly the blue pigeon · blue-banded eggfly · blue dragon · blue hour · Xerces blue · black-and-blue · Colly Blue · blue won · bluegrass · blue admiral · blue-eyed Mary · blue sky law · blue riband · blueback · short-tailed blue · blue law · into the wide blue yonder · blue book exam · blue wave · Blue House · duck-egg blue · blue duck · blue vitriol · blue metal · blue lives matter · blue-and-gold macaw · men in blue ties · blue-baller · blue devils · steel blue · blue ticket · Blue Mountain Heights · blue check mark · blue skimmer · grey-blue · blue-nosed · blue-red · sky-blue · blue top · blue quail · Duke blue · moonlight blue · Blue River · blue-eyed soul · gray-blue · Waterloo blue · blue-rinse brigade · blue-and-yellow macaw · blue fit · cerulean blue · bluethroat · bluestem · Mediterranean blue · blue ground beetle · bluebonnet · blue measles · blue blood · blue-winged macaw · blue flash · blue hen-hawk · blue-sky · blue grass · blue light bandit · blue cat · bluette · bluefish · blue-ringed octopus · blue crane · bronze blue · Meldola's blue · blue-tongue lizard · blue list · blue-pill · blurple · blue bottle · Blue Ridge · Oxford blue · blue grama · blue flax · blue-print · blue-blooded · azovan blue · little blue heron · sky blue · blue-tile fever · blueberry etc · little blue man · Bisbee blue · blue teamer · bluestar · blue swimming crab · eggshell blue · blue-balled · bluestocking · telegraph blue · holly blue · engineer's blue · blue hydrogen · Copenhagen blue · blue ribbon · Milori blue · blue-veined cheese · mineral blue · blue rinse · blue snakeweed · Delft blue · blue print · blue doe · Blue Revolution · blue-rinse · blue whale · slate blue · ant-blue · blueward · Bluebeard · mazarine blue · Eschel blue · blue book · blue pansy · Coventry blue · bluing · blue line · blue ruin · Carolina blue · blue whiting · bolt out of the blue · blueway · blueweed · blue heeler · blue-rinsed · bluesman · blue belly · blue roll · blue-ribbon · Columbia blue · Madonna blue · bluetongue · bluebottle · blue mass · blue corn · blue plate · blue-eye cod · blue water · blue asbestos · blue pigeon flyer · cry blue murder · blue-cheeked bee-eater · blue-collared · blue shirt · blue light · blue starter · oriental blue · washing blue · blue film · Scotch blue · blue supergiant · blue helmet · western pygmy blue · blue cohosh · blue ash tree · blue vulva · bluestone · dark blue · Blue Java · bluegill · bluecurls · boy in blue · blue dart · blue plaque · Blue Hill Falls · bice blue · blue-linked · robin egg blue · dark blue snakeweed · blue force · blue-plate · blue-blood · blue-water navy · out of the blue · true-blue · bluesy · blue pike · great blue heron · blue sandalwood · blue rock thrush · bluestripe · Danish blue · blue ground dove · blue-on-blue · blue agave · blue-collar work · powder blue · blue text · blue bible · Vestorian blue · blue dwarf · blue-headed wagtail · bolt from the blue · blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome · white-blue-white flag · blue norther · screwed, blued and tattooed · bluefaced · blue-ear disease · blue-stocking · blue-sky law · blues · Evans blue · ocean blue · Saunders blue · Blue Riband · blue nose · Bristol blue glass · Asian blue quail · blue-eyed cormorant · bluejacket · blue-winged laughingthrush · blue carbon · blue-eared kingfisher · bromthymol blue · bluetop · pencil-blue · blue-banded sea krait · blue pages · blue ginger · Wedgwood blue · blue-tongued lizard · blue shark · blue-tongued skink · blue vein · blue mussel · academy blue · blue pipe · blue seal · blueschist · blue bull · blue gold · blue bag · saxe blue · blueline · blue argus · blue bindweed · bluebeard · blue savory · like a blue-arsed fly · Venetian blue · blue lotus · abyssal blue · potash blue · blue beret · bluestreak · blue gum · blue flier · naphthol blue · bluewards · Blue Mediterranean · bluecap · blue jean · spirit blue · YInMn blue · biblical blue · blue-ear pig disease · pygmy blue whale · blue-skies · bluey · blue manna crab · blue spruce · blue space · blue-eye · blue dandelion · blue swimmer crab · blue-ball · blue heaven · blue room · electric blue · bluet · turquoise blue · blue-eyed shag · heath-blue · triisopropylsilyloxycarbonylleucomethylene blue · blue hole · sky blue pink · blue-capped kingfisher · blue cheese dressing · large blue · jouvence blue · blue chip swap · blue-gray · laundry blue · blue-eyed grass · Guimet's blue · blue grouse · flow blue · mountain blue · blue checkmark · blue-chipper · blueness · bluebird · TARDIS blue · blue-fronted jay · blue card · patrician blue · blueblossom · peacock blue · blueth · blue threeawn · out the blue · pure blue · blue-chinned · light the blue touchpaper · wild blue yonder · non-photo blue · bluebreast etc · blue light special · Blue Bay · vote blue no matter who · blue line process · desert blue · blue catfish · blue hare · blue-and-white · Bluebird · blue noise · common blue · blue jeans · true blue · blue square · false blue indigo · Blueshirt · blue pine · between the devil and the deep blue sea · blue land crab · blue giant · Blue Russian · blue ear disease · bluebelly · blue-necked ostrich · blue beryl · blue hook star · blue jay · Blue Goose · blue John · blue fever · blue-sky thinking · Colorado blue spruce · celestial blue · blue titmouse · blue stain · blue jet · Singapore blue tarantula · Chilean blue mussel · small blue · Berlin blue · blue Billy · blue zone · blue point · blue-faced honeyeater · light blue · blue bloater · blue-grey · little blue pill · blue raspberry · bluen · Blue Crown · blue baby syndrome · Mohammedan blue · blue mold · blue chalksticks · electric-blue · plushblue · black and blue · pale blue dot · big blue blanket · blue disease · Wurster's blue · sky-blue pink · glass blue-eye · blue code · robin's-egg blue · Blue Mantle · Blu-ray · blue-breasted fairywren · blue ammonia · blue acara · azodiphenyl blue · blue wren · trypan blue · blue-white screen · blue petrel · blue wall of silence · bluewash · blue shrimp · blue-balling · blue sheep · blue peter · blue blazes · blue waffle · Bluey · work blue · sky blue-pink · Russian Blue · blue pencil doctrine · bluebeat · Yale blue · dusky-blue · blue-lined · blue pony ant · Blue Island · line-blue · bluewood · haint blue · blue-bearded · bromothymol blue · blue bean · blue fly · sky-blue-pink · blue detuning · blue-faced booby · Sega blue sky · Blue Russia · blue-capped ifrit · great blue lobelia · blue-winged grasshopper · Himalayan blue poppy · is the sky blue · blue-green alga · Blue Earth River · Chartres blue · blue ice · blue marsh hawk · blue jaundice · bluejay · marking blue · cornflower blue · Tasmanian blue gum

Relateds

rainbow · RGB · Havasupai · primary colour

Synonyms

bluen

Translations (57)

fi sinertyä (to turn blue) · fr bleuter (to make blue) · tr gökçeleşmek (to turn blue) · fi värittää sinisellä (to make blue) · vi hồ lơ (to make blue) · tr ağartmak (to brighten (laundry)) · sw bluu (to make blue) · tr gökçeleşmek (to make blue) · tr mavileşmek (to make blue) · hu kékül (to turn blue) · mh būļuik (to make blue) · es azular (to turn blue) · tr gökçeleştirmek (to make blue) · de blau werden (to turn blue) · tr mavileşmek (to turn blue) · gv cur daah gorrym er (to make blue) · vo blövükön (to make blue) · eu urdindu (to make blue) · pl niebieszczeć (to turn blue) · pl zniebieszczeć (to turn blue) · fr bleuir (to turn blue) · ca emblavir (to turn blue) · gv gorrymee (to turn blue) · fi sinistyä (to turn blue) · pl niebieścić (to make blue) · pt azular (to make blue) · gv gorrymee (to make blue) · pl zaniebieszczać (to make blue) · mh kabūļu (to brighten (laundry)) · ca emblavir (to make blue) · fr bleuter (to passivate steel) · mh kabūļu (to turn blue) · fi värjätä siniseksi (to make blue) · fi sinistää (to passivate steel) · pl błękitnieć (to turn blue) · hu kékít (to make blue) · tr mavileştirmek (to make blue) · de bläuen (to make blue) · hu kékre fest (to make blue) · pl zaniebieszczyć (to make blue) · pt azular (to turn blue) · vi nhuộm xanh (to make blue) · mh kabūļu (to make blue) · vi làm xanh (màu) (to make blue) · sw bluu (to passivate steel) · fr azurer (to brighten (laundry)) · tr çivitlemek (to brighten (laundry)) · sk zmodrieť (to turn blue) · ms membirukan (to make blue) · sk zamodriť (to make blue) · eo bluigi (to make blue) · pl zabłękitnić (to make blue) · ms membiru (to turn blue) · pl zbłękitnieć (to turn blue) · es azular (to make blue) · fi värittää siniseksi (to make blue) · sw bluu (to turn blue)

blue en · VERB · etymology 2

Pronunciation

• blyo͞o (obsolete)
• (UK) audio
• (Australia) audio
• (US) audio
• /bluː/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /bljuː/ (obsolete)
• /blʉː/ (Australia)
• /blʉ/ (Northern-Ireland, Scotland)
• /blʉw/ (British, Southern, Standard)
• /blu/ (Canada, US)
• blo͞o

Etymology

Uncertain; possibly from blew, past tense of blow.

Meanings

1. (dated, slang, transitive) To spend (money) extravagantly; to blow.
   • They was willing to blue the lot and have nothing left when they got home except debts on the never-never. 1974, GB Edwards, The Book of Ebenezer Le Page, New York, published 2007, page 311:
   • So far as I can see, there’s nothing to prevent you from drawing a cheque for fifty thousand and blueing the lot. 1935, Dorothy L. Sayers, Gaudy Night:

Forms