noun
- any grass of the genus Poa, as the Kentucky bluegrass, P. pratensis, having dense tufts of bluish-green blades and creeping rhizomes.
- country music that is polyphonic in character and is played on unamplified stringed instruments, with emphasis especially on the solo banjo.
- the Bluegrass. Bluegrass Region.
noun
- any of several North American bluish-green grasses of the genus Poa, esp P. pratensis (Kentucky bluegrass), grown for forage
- a type of folk music originating in Kentucky, characterized by a simple harmonized accompaniment
also blue-grass, music style, 1958, in reference to the Blue Grass Boys, country music band 1940s-’50s, from the “blue” grass (Poa pratensis) characteristic of Kentucky, the grass so called from 1751. Kentucky has been called the Bluegrass State since at least 1872; see blue (n.) + grass.
A kind of folk music for guitar, banjo, violin, other stringed instruments, and voice; bluegrass is distinguished by rapid notes and improvisation by the musicians.