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blue

blue

49 9.9
An old sedative drug once used to help people sleep
  • noun
  • /blu/
  • Archaic
translation icon : amobarbital sódico
  • In the hospital, the nurse administered blue to help the patient relax before surgery.

Examples

  • Patients often respond well to blue when used as a sedative in clinical settings.

  • Code blue, we got a cardiac arrest.

  • Buddy Guy was playing slow blues at the Trump Marina Casino in Atlantic City.

    Academic text (2002)
  • Mavis Staples is a legend in gospel, blues, and soul music.

    Academic text (2008)
  • The fourth and fifth-grade students enjoyed performing a simple blues piece for woodwind and percussion instruments.

    Academic text (2008)
  • Charters has reproduced the lyrics of many early blues songs that may be analyzed and interpreted.

    Academic text (1993)
  • The doctor prescribed blue for its calming effects during the patient's treatment.

Synonyms

Amytal
vsblue
  • Archaic
4 9.9

A prescription medicine that makes a person sleep or feel calm under a doctor's care

is the generic chemical name rather than a brand
amobarbital
vsblue
  • Specialized
1 9.8

A medicine that makes people sleep and helps control seizures

is the specific salt form mainly named for medical sedation
amobarbital sodium
vsblue
  • Specialized
8.2

A drug used to calm people and help them sleep

is the shorter common label for the same chemical
blue devil
vsblue
  • Archaic
9.9

A strong sleeping medicine that makes people sleep

is the formal one word label rather than the colloquial name
blue angel
vsblue
  • Archaic
9.9

A strong medicine that makes people sleep and calms them

is the same substance but identified by a different short label

Idioms

out of the blue
  • Informal
95 3.4

Something happens suddenly and without warning

black and blue
  • Informal
8 2.1

With dark bruises on the skin from being hit

6 5.0

Happens very rarely

2 6.5

A sudden event that shocks people and is not expected

You must choose between two options that are both bad

blue murder
  • Informal
1 8.5

A very loud, angry shout of complaint or protest

To start something that quickly becomes exciting or causes strong debate

Acts very quickly and with great force

9.9

To use swear words, often when angry

Compounds

211 1.4

A very large whale that is bluish grey and the largest animal ever

65 1.0

Sky that looks clear and blue during the day

61 3.6

Related to jobs that involve physical work, like factory or construction work

27 1.0

Trousers made of blue denim that people usually wear as casual clothes

27 4.1

A state in the United States that mostly votes for the Democratic Party

18 2.8

A cheese with blue or green veins and a strong flavor

18 4.2

A large well-known company whose shares people buy because they seem safe

16 1.0

A deep, rich blue color darker than normal blue

16 1.0

A pale shade of blue like the sky on a clear day

15 1.0

A person with blue eyes

15 1.0

A very dark blue color like a sailor's uniform

14 1.0

A light, soft shade of blue like the sky

13 3.1

A prize given for first place in a contest

8 1.0

Having a deep blue color

8 1.0

A deep blue color that has a slight purple hint like a clear autumn sky

blue moon
  • Informal
7 6.1

An event that happens very rarely

7 6.8

Very loyal and always supporting a person, group, or cause

7 7.6

A person who comes from a rich or royal family

7 5.1

A range of Appalachian mountains from Pennsylvania to Georgia that look blue from far away

6 1.8

A color that is a mix of blue and green

5 2.3

A common North American bird with bright blue feathers and a grey chest

5 5.4

Of very high quality and chosen as the best

5 2.0

Gray with a little blue like the sky before a storm

5 3.7

A deep, bright blue color with a little green in it

4 4.5

A slim, fast shark with a blue back and white belly that lives in the open ocean

blue-chip stock
  • Specialized
4 4.1

A share of a large, well-known company that is safe and pays steady dividends

4 3.1

A deep blue color with a purple tint

A mountain range in the eastern United States from southern Pennsylvania to northern Georgia

4 3.6

Very dark color that is black with a blue shine

blue-eyed
  • Informal
3 5.3

A person treated as a favorite by someone in charge

3 5.3

A blue-covered booklet students use to write exam answers

3 6.5

A poker chip with the most value in a game

3 3.4

White with a light blue tint

3 3.4

A light blue color with a faint purple hint

blue law
  • Formal
2 9.3

A law that stops shops and some activities on Sundays or religious holidays

Skin that has dark marks after a bruise

wild blue yonder
  • Literature
2 7.1

The open blue sky far above the ground

Big Blue
  • Specialized
2 8.4

A very large powerful bomb the US military uses to destroy enemy positions

A creamy sauce that has blue cheese and mayonnaise or sour cream

2 3.4

A bluish crab that lives on North America's Atlantic and Gulf coasts and is eaten for its sweet meat

2 6.1

An independent group of respected experts who study a public problem and give advice

2 9.5

An unwritten rule among police officers not to report a colleague's illegal actions to protect them from punishment

2 8.0

Very creative ideas that are not yet practical

2 2.7

A color that is mainly blue with some gray

2 3.7

A pale blue color with a slight grey tint

1 8.2

A person who comes from a royal or noble family and has high social rank

1 4.6

A large bird with blue-grey feathers, long legs and a long neck that lives near water

1 1.8

A light blue like the clear sky on a sunny day

blue wall
  • Jargon
1 9.0

A secret rule among police not to report a colleague's wrongdoing

A light blue like a cornflower with little green

1 7.4

A symbol showing police protect society from disorder and stand together

1 6.4

A light blue color used by the jewelry brand Tiffany & Co

1 2.1

Deep blue with a little purple like a clear autumn sky

1 3.5

A blue color with a grey tone like a metal plate

1 6.7

An infant born with blue skin because there is not enough oxygen in the blood

1 9.9

A type of walleye fish with bluish color that lived in the Great Lakes and is now extinct

blue jet
  • Specialized
1 9.9

Bright blue electric flashes that shoot up from thundercloud tops into the upper sky

blue orchid
  • Indian
1 6.8

A large orchid from northern India with pale to deep lilac blue flowers

blue wall
  • Literature
1 5.6

A group of states or voters that often support the same political party

blue-green
  • Specialized
1 5.8

A way to release software using two identical systems to move users to the new version

A dark blue color with a little green that artists use for painting

1 3.3

A blue color with a little purple in it

A deep bright blue paint color first made from a stone called lapis lazuli and now often made artificially

1 4.6

A large freshwater fish with blue skin that lives in North American rivers

blue devils
  • Archaic
1 8.9

A feeling of sadness and low mood

blue funk
  • Informal
1 8.8

A feeling of deep sadness or worry that makes you feel low

1 5.9

A group of respected experts chosen to study an important public problem and give advice

1 6.5

A plant that lives for many years and has clusters of blue, star-shaped flowers in the southeastern United States

1 1.6

A color that is a mix of blue and green

1 7.2

A climbing plant with blue-purple flowers grown for gardens

1 7.7

A water plant with blue flowers that people often use in art, religion, and traditional medicine

1 6.1

A very large blue fish that lives in warm seas and can weigh over 900 kilograms

blue note
  • Specialized
1 7.0

A musical note played a bit lower in jazz and blues to sound sad and emotional

Surface Forms

blue singular
blues plural

Etymology

The drug nickname blue comes from some pills that were blue in color, so people called the sedative by its color.