purse Hear it!

purse Definition

purse (pʉrs)

noun

  1. a small bag or pouch for carrying money
  2. financial resources; money
  3. a sum of money collected as a present or given as a prize
  4. ☆ a woman's handbag
  5. anything like a purse in shape, use, etc.

Etymology: ME < OE purs < ML bursa, bag, purse < LL, hide < Gr byrsa

transitive verb pursed, purs·ing

  1. Archaic to put in a purse
    1. to gather into small folds
    2. to draw (the lips) tightly together, as in disapproval

purse Synonyms

purse

n.

pouch, pocketbook, handbag, bag, clutch bag, clutch, receptacle, portemonnaie (French), moneybag, wallet, pocket, coin purse, billfold, reticule, money belt, sack, vanity case, vanity bag, halfpenny-purse, belt-purse, sporran, bursa, saccule, poche, pochette (both French).

hold the purse strings*

be in control of money, finance, manage a household, manage a business; see manage 1.

tighten the purse strings*

scrimp, be sparing, hoard; see save 3.

purse Usage Examples

Object

lip: Full, pursing lips, Waiting perhaps to open, to receive, not sure; Possibly venom to spit.

Converse of object

  • embroider: These include printed leather handbags from Kimchi, embroidered silk purses from Alice Caroline and Swarovski crystal belt charms from Virginie Brisset.
  • snatch: However, watch out for young men on bicycles who try to snatch purses, handbags or cameras.
  • steal: Then there was the time I had my purse stolen in central London.
  • zip: Inside is lined with printed cotton fabric and has a side zipped pocket, phone holder and detachable leather zipped top purse.

Adjective modifier

  • public: Also by his actions the public purse had suffered to the extent of over £ 400,000.
  • electronic: It does not include electronic purses or store cards.
  • empty: The empty purses were afterward found in the pocket of the Bishop of the Diocese!

Modifies a noun

  • seine: In the Tuna-Dolphin dispute, the US had imposed import bans on tuna caught by the use of dolphin setting with purse seine nets.
  • snatcher: Safety The biggest problem facing visitors to Sicily are the hoards of pickpockets and purse snatchers who lurk in the main cities.
  • string: His little con job was to rip off the old man who held a tight hand on the purse strings.

Noun used with modifier

  • silk: You cannot make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.. .
  • mermaid: The female holds the developing egg capsules for several weeks before the mermaids purses are released.
  • leather: They also treated the leather purses with oil, to soften them down again.
  • coin: Inside the lining is clean, with only the coin purse bearing a few marks.
  • clutch: Price: £ 50.00 Including VAT Lulu Guinness Friendship, Love & Truth Embroidery Clutch Purse Black satin frame topped clutch purse with handle.

Possessives

  • Samaritan: Samaritan's Purse is also addressing the urgent need for clean water.
  • mermaid: A real treat was to find a mermaid's purse entwined in the seaweed.
  • shepherd: Annual weeds like chickweed, and shepherds ' purse will have already started to flower and set seed.

Preposition: of

sovereign: One old Irishman offered a purse of sovereigns if they would spare him but they were knocked aside and he was thrown over.

Browse dictionary entries near purse

  1. purr
  2. purpurin
  3. purpure
  4. purpura
  5. purposive
  6. purposely
  7. purposeless
  8. purposeful
  9. purpose-built
  10. purpose
  1. purse crab
  2. purse-proud
  3. purse seine
  4. purse strings
  5. purser
  6. purslane
  7. pursuance
  8. pursuant
  9. pursue
  10. pursuing