blue

BLOO/bluː/

Noun pluralblues

41 meanings of blue

Practice

1
color (describing)adjective
Having the color of a clear sky or the deep sea.
Like the color of the sky on a clear, sunny day.
She wore a blue dress to the party.
Our front door is blue, and the walls are white.
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2
nouncountable or uncountable
The color of a clear sky or deep sea.
Like the color you see when you look up at the sky on a sunny day.
Blue is my favorite color.
The walls were painted a soft blue.
UsageSay a soft blue for one shade, and blue for the color.
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3
item by colornouncountable or uncountable
Whichever item is colored blue, used to tell it apart from others that are alike except for color.
Both shirts fit well, but I like the blue better.
I'll take the blue, and you can have the red.
4
political sideadjective
Voting for or run by the party whose color is blue, such as Democrats in the US or Conservatives in the UK.
Like wearing a team's color to show which side you cheer for.
The city has voted blue for decades.
That state turned blue in the last election.
UsageOften turn blue or vote blue.
Oppositered
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5
cheesenouncountable or uncountable
A type of cheese with blue or green lines in it and a strong taste.
This blue is too strong for me, but I love the brie.
She crumbled some blue onto the salad.
UsageShort for blue cheese: a strong blue.
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6
skin (cold or choking)adjective
Having skin that looks blue or purple from cold or from not getting enough oxygen.
Like how your lips can look bluish when you get very cold.
The baby's lips turned blue in the cold water.
His fingers went blue after hours out in the snow.
UsageOften turn blue or go blue.
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7
team membernouncountable or uncountable
A player on a sports team that wears blue. People also call the whole team the blues.
The former Blue scored against his old team on Saturday.
The blues are playing at home this weekend.
UsageUse it in cheers: Come on, you blues!
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8
physics (spectrum)adjective
Of light, at or moving toward the higher-energy, bluer end of the spectrum.
Hot young stars give off blue light.
A star that moves toward us gives off light that looks a little bluer.
Oppositered
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Less common meanings

9
adjectivecolloquial
Feeling sad or unhappy.
Like a gray, rainy day when nothing feels fun.
I felt blue after my friend moved away.
She's been a little blue since the holidays ended.
UsageUsually after feel or be: feeling blue, a little blue.
Similarsad, unhappy, depressed, miserable, down
Oppositehappy, cheerful, upbeat
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10
wearing (color)noununcountable
Clothes that are blue, especially the blue uniform of police or sailors.
The sailors all wore blue on deck.
She dressed the children in blue for the parade.
UsageSay dressed in blue or wear blue.
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11
color (action)verbtransitive or intransitive
To turn something blue, or to change to a blue color.
Heat the steel slowly, and watch it blue as it gets hotter.
The steel began to blue as the smith heated it.
UsageYou can write blueing or bluing.
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12
police officernounslangcountable or uncountable
A police officer.
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, DieHere, blues means police officers.
UsageUsually the blues: the police.
Similarcop, copper, officer
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13
adult materialadjectivecolloquial
Rude or about sex in a way that can shock people.
The comedian told a few blue jokes that made the parents uncomfortable.
My grandpa kept a box of old blue movies hidden in the garage.
UsageOften blue jokes: rude jokes about sex.
Similarsmutty, dirty, racy, bawdy, crude
Oppositeclean, wholesome
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14
dye (stuff)nouncountable or uncountable
A dye or paint that colors things blue.
The artist mixed a little blue into the white paint.
My grandma added a drop of blue to the rinse water to make the white sheets look whiter.
15
adjective
Having gray fur, used to describe some cats and dogs.
The cat has soft blue fur.
Our dog had five puppies, and the smallest one was blue.
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16
far distancenouncountable or uncountable
The sky, the sea, or somewhere far away, as in 'sailed off into the blue'.
We lay on the warm grass and stared up at the blue.
The little sailboat headed out into the blue until we couldn't see it anymore.
UsageOut of the blue means suddenly, with no warning.
Similarsky
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17
very rareadjective
Cooked for only a very short time, so the meat is still nearly raw and cool inside.
He likes his steak blue, barely cooked at all.
The chef served the beef blue, still cold in the middle.
Oppositewell-done
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18
Conservative membernounUKcountable or uncountable
In British politics, someone who supports or belongs to the Conservative Party.
Her grandfather was a true blue and voted Conservative all his life.
The blues won the seat back in the by-election.
UsageOften a true blue: a loyal Conservative.
SimilarTory, Conservative
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19
a gray petnouncountable or uncountable
A dog or cat that has a grayish coat.
Our cat had four kittens: three blacks and a blue.
We wanted a black puppy, but the breeder only had blues left.
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20
adult materialnounslanguncountable
Sexual or rude material, such as films or jokes.
UsageOften a bit of blue.
Similarsmut, porn, filth
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21
snooker ballnouncountable or uncountable
In the game of snooker, a colored ball worth five points.
He sank the blue for five points.
The blue sat right over the corner pocket.
UsageSay the blue: pot the blue.
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22
butterflynouncountable or uncountable
A small butterfly that often has blue on its wings.
A small blue landed on the flower.
We saw lots of blues fluttering around the flowers near the river.
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23
sports honornouncountable or uncountable
An award given by a university to a student for playing top-level sport.
He won a blue for playing rugby for his university.
Earning a blue is a big honor for any student athlete.
UsageYou win a blue for rowing or rugby.
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24
fightnouncolloquialAustraliacountable or uncountable
A fight or noisy argument between people.
They had a big blue about money.
A blue started outside the shop.
UsageSay have a blue with someone: have a fight.
Similarfight, row, brawl, barney, scrap
Note
25
nounslang
In baseball, a name for the umpire, from the dark blue uniform umpires have traditionally worn.
26
adjective
Of a flame, pale and not bright.
27
adjective
In physics, having the color charge called blue, one of the three kinds quarks can carry.
28
adjectivearchaic
Very strict about right and wrong, and no fun.
29
adjectivearchaic
Of a woman, very interested in books and learning.
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, William Makepeace Thackeray, Vanity Fair
30
adjectivedated
Having drunk too much alcohol.
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
31
noun
Someone who has won a university award for playing sport at the top level.
32
noun
A woman who loves books and learning.
33
noun
A bluefish, a sea fish that eats other fish.
34
noun
A blue liquid put in washing to keep white clothes white.
35
noun
A way of treating metal to help keep it from rusting.
36
nounBritish
A small firework that makes a loud bang.
37
noun
In physics, one of three kinds of color charge that a quark can have, with red and green.
38
verb
To treat steel so that it does not rust easily.
39
verb
To use a blue dye to make white clothes look whiter.
40
verbslangAustralia
To argue or fight with someone.
41
verbdated
To waste money quickly.
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

More uses

bluesa slow, sad kind of music that began among Black Americans in the South

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of blue apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

It comes from Middle English blewe, borrowed from French words meaning 'blue', which came from an old Germanic word for blue.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

Blue comes from Middle English blewe. en.wikipedia.org
The Middle English word was borrowed from French words meaning blue. en.wiktionary.org
The French word derives from an older Germanic word meaning blue. en.wikisource.org