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