Main Entry: blues

Pronunciation: \ˈblüz\

Function: noun plural but singular or plural in construction

Etymology: blue devils

Date: 1741

1 : low spirits : melancholy <suffering a case of the blues>
2 : a song often of lamentation characterized by usually 12-bar phrases, 3-line stanzas in which the words of the second line usually repeat those of the first, and continual occurrence of blue notes in melody and harmony
3 : jazz or popular music using harmonic and phrase structures of blues