blueblue1 /bluː/ ●●● S1 W2 adjective 
the blue waters of the lakedark/light/pale/bright blue a dark blue raincoat2[not before noun] informal sad and without hope SYN depressed: I’ve been feeling kind of blue.3 informal blue jokes, stories etc are about sex, in a way that might offend some people → blue movie4argue/talk etc till you’re blue in the face informal to argue, talk etc about something a lot, but without achieving what you want: You can tell them till you’re blue in the face, but they’ll still do what they want.5blue with cold especially British English someone who is blue with cold looks extremely cold6go blue British English if someone goes blue, their skin becomes blue because they are cold or cannot breathe properly7talk a blue streak American English informal to talk very quickly without stopping—blueness noun [uncountable] → black and blue, → once in a blue moon at once1(15), → scream blue murder at scream1(1)
WORD ORIGINblue1
Origin:
1200-1300 Old French blouEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- blue language
- a dark blue sweater
- Her jokes are too blue for most audiences.
- I found the kids watching a blue movie on the video last night.
- Carrie's bright blue eyes mirrored her good health and she hummed happily to herself as she brushed down her best coat.
- Inside this box, the hot, red upwellings of the mantle moved past cold, blue downwellings.
- Quills of blue smoke rose out of the swinging ball.
- The man who shot Richard had grey hair and was wearing a black leather jacket, a blue jumper and jeans.
- There are blue laws and blue movies.
- Thousands of fertilized sea urchin eggs, starfish and blue clams returned to Earth with the astronauts.
Longman Language Activatorperson
feeling cold: · Dad, I'm cold. Can I put the heater on?· Your hands are really cold!feel cold: · He woke up in the middle of the night feeling cold.look cold: · Come and sit by the fire. You look cold.
also frozen British spoken feeling very cold and uncomfortable: · How much longer do we have to wait out her? I'm freezing.· You look absolutely frozen.
to shake a little because you are cold: · I was shivering in my thin sleeping bag.shiver with cold: · They were forced to wait outside for hours, shivering with cold.
to be so cold that your skin turns slightly blue: · He was huddled into his coat, his face blue with cold.· Look at her. The poor girl's quite blue with cold.
British /have goosebumps American to have small raised areas on your skin because you are cold: · She was shivering, her arms and legs covered in goosepimples.· Why don't you put something else on? You've got goosebumps.
if your teeth are chattering you are so cold that your teeth keep knocking together and you cannot stop them: · Her teeth were chattering with cold.
feeling sad or unhappy for a long time very unhappy and without any hope for a long time, and feeling that your life will never get better, sometimes so that this becomes a mental illness: · My sister's been really depressed since she lost her job.· A lot of people get depressed in the winter, when the weather's bad and there's very little sunlight.depressed about: · Greta often gets depressed about her weight.
informal unhappy, especially because something bad has happened to you and you cannot see how to make the situation better: · John's pretty low at the moment -- his business is losing money.· He's been feeling down since he failed his driving test for the fifth time.
informal feeling unhappy and not having much interest in what is happening around you, but usually in a way that is not very serious: · Mom's kind of down in the dumps at the moment -- why don't you buy her something to cheer her up?· If you're feeling down in the dumps, come over and have a chat.
informal to feel slightly sad or unhappy, because something bad has happened to you or sometimes for no particular reason: · Feeling blue? Don't know who to talk to? Phone Depression Hotline, 24 hours a day.
someone who is morose behaves in an unhappy, bad-tempered way, and does not speak much to other people: · Since the accident she's been morose and moody.· Frank was sitting alone at the table, looking morose.· Some people become morose and depressed when they first retire.
books, jokes, remarks etc that are about sex and are offensive obscene words or pictures are about sex and are very offensive: · 'Lady Chatterley's Lover' was banned as an obscene book.· He was charged with smuggling obscene materials into the UK.
informal dirty books, jokes, films etc are about sex - use this especially to show that you think these are unpleasant: · They just sit around telling dirty jokes - it's very boring.· He used to keep a collection of dirty books hidden under his bed.
clothes that are indecent show parts of the body that are usually covered; actions or movements that are indecent are sexual, but in a way many people think is not pleasant or acceptable: · You can't wear that dress to the dinner party -- it's positively indecent!· Models were forced into all sorts of indecent poses for the camera.
lewd remarks or behaviour show that the person saying them or doing something is thinking about sex, and they are usually offensive: · "Say no more!'' he grinned, giving her a lewd wink.· Although his jokes were a little lewd, he always made us laugh.
informal films, jokes etc that are blue are about sex and usually use offensive language: · I found the kids watching a blue movie on the video last night.· Her jokes are too blue for most audiences.
showing or describing sexual acts in a very offensive way: · The magazine printed filthy pictures that shocked everyone.
American jokes, stories, remarks etc that are off-color talk about sex in a way that is not acceptable in a particular situation: · He occasionally tells an off-color joke, but his image is practically that of a saint.
informal books, stories, films etc that are about sex - use this when you strongly disapprove of this: · There's too much violence and smut on TV these days.
WORD SETSamber, nounamethyst, nounapricot, nounaquamarine, nounashen, adjectiveauburn, adjectiveazure, adjectivebar, nounbarred, adjectivebeige, nounblack, adjectiveblack, nounblack, verbblack and white, adjectiveblacken, verbbleed, verbblood-red, adjectiveblue, adjectiveblue, nounbluish, adjectivebold, adjectivebottle green, nounbrassy, adjectivebrindled, adjectivebronze, nounbronze, adjectivebrown, adjectivebrown, nounbuff, nounburgundy, nouncarmine, nouncarroty, adjectivecerise, nouncerulean, nounchartreuse, nouncherry, nounchestnut, nounchestnut, adjectivechromatic, adjectivechrome yellow, nounclaret, nounclear, adjectivecoffee, nouncool, adjectivecopper, nouncoral, adjectivecream, adjectivecreamy, adjectivecrimson, adjectivecyan, adjectivedappled, adjectivedapple-grey, nounDay-Glo, adjectivediscoloration, noundiscolour, verbdrab, adjectivedull, adjectivedun, noundusky, adjectivedye, verbebony, adjectivefawn, adjectiveflaxen, adjectiveflesh-coloured, adjectiveflorid, adjectivefluorescent, adjectiveflush, nounfuchsia, noungarish, adjectivegarnet, noungaudy, adjectivegay, adjectiveginger, adjectivegold, noungold, adjectivegolden, adjectivegray, green, adjectivegreen, noungreenish, adjectivegrey, adjectivegrey, noungreyish, adjectivehazel, adjectiveindigo, nouniridescent, adjectiveivory, nounjade, nounjet-black, adjectivekhaki, nounlavender, nounleaden, adjectivelemon, nounlilac, nounlily-white, adjectivelime green, nounlivid, adjectiveloud, adjectiveluminous, adjectivelurid, adjectivemagenta, nounmagnolia, nounmahogany, nounmaroon, nounmatch, nounmauve, nounmellow, adjectivemellow, verbmonochrome, adjectivemousy, adjectivemuddy, adjectivemulticoloured, adjectivemustard, nounmuted, adjectivenavy blue, adjectiveneutral, adjectiveochre, nounoff-white, nounolive, nounopalescent, adjectiveorange, nounpale, adjectivepastel, nounpastel, adjectivepeach, nounpea green, nounpearly, adjectivepepper-and-salt, adjectivepink, adjectivepink, nounpinkish, adjectiveplum, nounplum, adjectivepowder blue, nounprimary colour, nounprimrose, nounprismatic, adjectivepuce, adjectivepure, adjectivepurple, nounpurplish, adjectivered, adjectivered, nounredden, verbreddish, adjectiveredhead, nounrestrained, adjectiverich, adjectiverose, nounrose, adjectiveroseate, adjectiverose-coloured, adjectiverosy, adjectiveroyal blue, nounruby, nounruddy, adjectiverusset, nounsable, adjectivesaffron, nounscarlet, adjectivesepia, nounshade, nounshocking pink, nounsienna, nounsilver, nounsilver, adjectivesilvery, adjectivesky-blue, adjectivesnow-white, adjectivesnowy, adjectivesoft, adjectivesombre, adjectivesteely, adjectivetaupe, nountawny, adjectiveteal, nountint, nountint, verbtone, nounturquoise, nountwo-tone, adjectiveultramarine, nounumber, nounvermilion, nounvibrant, adjectiveviolet, nounwarm, adjectivewaxen, adjectiveweak, adjectivewhite, adjectivewhite, nounwhiten, verbwhitish, adjectiveyellow, adjectiveyellow, nounyellow, verbyellowy, adjective
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY a dark blue raincoat I’ve been feeling kind of blue.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES Sunset came and coloured the sky a brilliant red. a dark blue dress a dusky pink room Priscilla’s hair was dyed jet black. She had blue eyes and light brown hair. We painted the door blue. Paint the walls in a contrasting colour. The living room was painted in pastel shades of pink and blue. For the second time she won the blue ribbon (=first prize). Rose’s hair was already turning grey. In October the leaves turn orange and yellow. The sun had turned the sky a glowing pink.
a dark blue raincoat I’ve been feeling kind of blue. (=a type of cheese with blue lines in it and a strong taste)
· Our door was painted a bright green colour.
Sunset came and coloured the sky a brilliant red. a dark blue dress a dusky pink room Priscilla’s hair was dyed jet black.· Both their children have blue eyes.
· She looked into his deep blue eyes.· The tiny child’s pale blue eyes stared up at her appealingly.
She had blue eyes and light brown hair. (=jobs in which you work using your hands)· People from manual occupations are most at risk of experiencing poverty.
· I decided to use white paint throughout the house.
We painted the door blue. Paint the walls in a contrasting colour. The living room was painted in pastel shades of pink and blue. For the second time she won the blue ribbon (=first prize). informal (=scream very loudly with fear or anger)· She flew into a rage and screamed blue murder at him.
· The sun shone brightly upon the clear blue sea.
· The sky was blue and the sun was shining.
· Black smoke poured out of the engine.
Rose’s hair was already turning grey. In October the leaves turn orange and yellow. The sun had turned the sky a glowing pink. (=someone who does physical work)· Manual workers often live close to their workplace.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN· Blues is a delicious full fat soft blue cheese with a creamy texture and good bite.· A sprinkling of blue cheese or Gorgonzola makes it extra special.· Add Cheddar cheese, blue cheese and 2 cups flour.· And the horseradish potato puree, braised greens, Maytag blue cheese and port wine sauce are also praiseworthy.· Nearly all blue cheeses are scalded and lightly pressed and tend to crumble.· The mold variety used in the making of blue cheeses has been in use for centuries and is apparently safe.· If you fancy a blue cheese, chose Roquefort over Stilton - the difference is 40 calories an ounce!· Of the remaining blue cheeses, Mycella is probably the best known.
· The City also wants to take it easier after yesterday's barrage of trading statements from blue chip companies.· Metal, paper and chemical makers were among the leading gainers, helping blue chips to an impressive advance.· Many blue chip companies use team-based competitions with a series of mental and physical challenges.· The index of blue chip stocks gained 159. 70 for the week.· After the auction, the blue chip benchmark inched higher to end at 6,170.3, a gain of 4.8 points.· That proved a bonanza in 1995, when blue chips were market leaders.· Joanne Tearle finds that the blue chip loan comes in many guises and choosing one may be your greatest problem.· Among blue chips, J. P. Morgan surrendered 2 5 / 8 to 79.
· The dark blue collar and shoulder straps are lined with scarlet cloth and edged with white lace.· They were blue collar in occupation, and they were haters.· Though most managers recognised the remarkable achievements of the machinists, the programmers were unhappy that blue collar workers remained in control.· They needed to put a little blue collar -- Carolina blue, if you will -- into all that pompous purple.· The report demonstrated that the 1980s austerity measures had disproportionately affected blue collar workers in comparison with white collar workers.· Beyond that, however labor markets are no longer a simple matter of distinguishing between white and blue collars.· Maybe Madonna is, like Cher, what director Franc Roddam calls' a genuine blue collar actress.
· Brown hair, àla Beatles, blue anorak, tatty blue jeans and guitar.· The faded blue jeans she wore that morning, her old tennis shoes, her white cotton sweater.· The head of a smart high-street men's shop attempted to tell me why corduroys are superior to blue jeans.· Seven months earlier my friend could be seen on campus wearing blue jeans and a shirt that said dumb things.· He wore a pair of faded blue jeans and a rugby shirt.· With his blond hair and blue eyes, Spelling plays a Valley dude who wears a tank top and blue jeans.· Co-star Steve McFadden, who plays Phil Mitchell, settled for a bomber jacket with blue jeans.· Alvin dressed in blue jeans, shirts and boots and looked like the renegade that he felt he was.
· So now he just comes round once in a blue moon.· A blue moon is the second full moon in one month.· Once in a blue moon the addressing system itself changes.· That happens only once in a blue moon, when the weather is cold enough and thus the ice thick enough.· The most recent observation of a blue moon was in Edinburgh in 1950.· And Eleanor was damn lucky to have him as an escort once in a blue moon.
· His bus turned into an Inter-City express without brakes and he sat on top and screamed blue murder.· It might get into the papers, and then she'd be down here knocking on my door and screaming blue murder.· I think that should be stopped - blue murder, vandalism and the lot.· They say people usually get upset and scream blue murder and all that shite, but no me.
· Then he went on gazing at Thérèse, voluptuous in flowered chintz and blue ribbons.· Then there was Raymond Lereaux who showed horses and won blue ribbons that he brought to school for Show and Tell.· A cot swathed in draperies and blue ribbon stood isolated in a corner.· Christine had friends in the Working Groups, and Tim wore the blue ribbon.· There were two large bouquets and a bundle of letters tied with pale blue ribbon, presumably from stage-door admirers.· The Longitude Act established a blue ribbon panel of judges that became known as the Board of Longitude.· A large jug and basin, charmingly ornamented with a design of blue ribbon, was its centre-piece.· There are blue devils and blue ribbons and blue bloods.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► argue/talk etc till you’re blue in the facePHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► blue-chip companies/shares etc► between the devil and the deep blue sea
1having the colour of the sky or the sea on a fine day: - He had a wicked tongue when roused and could talk a blue streak.
- I was talking a blue streak.
- Ben, naked except for the strait-jacket, and blue with cold, was heaving and struggling and bellowing.
- Doug emerges from the cabin looking blue with cold.
- Gerda approached Kay, who was blue with cold but oblivious to his predicament because of the ice in his heart.
- Celia came down holding the baby, who had gone blue and stopped breathing.
- Do not put the bandage on too tight or you may find your fingers or toes going blue through lack of circulation.
- I could have threatened to hold my breath until I went blue.
- Strictly speaking, yes, it would tend to go blue ever so slightly.
- The baby boy went blue after his lungs became blocked.
- You rolled around, went blue and your eyes shot up into your head.
- Even so, dismissal should never come as a bolt from the blue, however exalted your place in the corporate hierarchy.
- Inspiration hit me like a bolt from the blue on the way home.
- The Mishcon job came like a bolt from the blue.
- I can tell you the boys in blue are pleased you've turned up.
- I could just as easily send the Boys in Blue.
- The rising sun slowly turns the drab greys and dull browns of the mountains to patches of pale gold and dusty pinks.
- Sam drove off in a funk.
- At extremely fast tempos this lilt is lost and they even out as they would in a funk or fusion context.
- Montross is frank enough to admit that all this put him in a funk for a third of the season.
- Beyond Volkswagens and medium blue cars or big black cars, Carla could not tell one car from the other.
- It came in two colours, medium brown or medium grey; it shone with a slightly oily sheen.
- She was slim, five feet four inches tall, and had medium brown skin.
- Once in a blue moon Eric will offer to help with the dishes, but usually he doesn't do any housework at all.
- I used to spend a lot of time in London, but now I only go there once in a blue moon.
- We go out to eat once in a blue moon.
- And Eleanor was damn lucky to have him as an escort once in a blue moon.
- So now he just comes round once in a blue moon.
- That happens only once in a blue moon, when the weather is cold enough and thus the ice thick enough.
- By flaking off successive layers, the tree displays a bark of beige, cinnamon, lime green and slate blue.
- Immature has tail brown but throat white, with most of bill slate blue.
- Matching long-line briefs, £19, s, m, l, Also in classic navy and slate grey.
- Most remarkably it continued to function under California's midday sun, when it's slate grey shell was too hot hold!
- The falls of the flowers are a delicate yellowish green veined with slate blue.
- The sky past his profiled head had gone slate blue above a jagged paleness of snow.
- They were hard pin-points of slate blue beneath bushy eyebrows.
the blue waters of the lakedark/light/pale/bright blue a dark blue raincoat2[not before noun] informal sad and without hope SYN depressed: I’ve been feeling kind of blue.3 informal blue jokes, stories etc are about sex, in a way that might offend some people → blue movie4argue/talk etc till you’re blue in the face informal to argue, talk etc about something a lot, but without achieving what you want: You can tell them till you’re blue in the face, but they’ll still do what they want.5blue with cold especially British English someone who is blue with cold looks extremely cold6go blue British English if someone goes blue, their skin becomes blue because they are cold or cannot breathe properly7talk a blue streak American English informal to talk very quickly without stopping—blueness noun [uncountable] → black and blue, → once in a blue moon at once1(15), → scream blue murder at scream1(1)