purse
1 of 2noun
ˈpərs 
1
a(1)
: a small bag for money
(2)
: a receptacle (such as a pocketbook) for carrying money and often other small objects
b
: a receptacle (such as a pouch) shaped like a purse
2
a
: resources, funds
b
: a sum of money offered as a prize or present
also : the total amount of money offered in prizes for a given event
purselike
ˈpərs-ˌlīk
adjective purse
2 of 2verb
pursed; pursing
transitive verb
1
: to put into a purse
2
: pucker, knit
pursed his brow
Synonyms
Noun
- bag
- handbag
- pocketbook
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Noun a golf tournament with a million dollar purse I left my purse at home, so I can't buy anything after all. Verb She pursed her lips in concentration. His lips were tightly pursed.
Recent Examples on the Web
Georgia Slater, Peoplemag, 13 Sep. 2022 With electronic dance music and pop hits blaring as players warmed up, the scene felt more like an exhibition than a competitive event with a $25 million purse. Cam Kerry, BostonGlobe.com, 2 Sep. 2022 Jennifer Lawrence opted for contrasting accessories, pairing her matchy-matchy look with an olive green purse, black leather flats, and black, wire-frame sunglasses. Sam Reed, Glamour, 1 Sep. 2022 Senior Women's Open is a 72-hole stroke play event with a $1 million prize purse. Adam Baum, The Enquirer, 5 Aug. 2022 The announcement made on Tuesday by MX Sports Pro Racing and Feld Motor Sports, Inc., would see a new playoff series and championship with a purse of $10 million. Maury Brown, Forbes, 2 Aug. 2022 Mercury/SeaVee sponsored the tournament that attracted 67 fishing teams with a total purse of $136,907. Emmett Hall, Sun Sentinel, 7 July 2022 Gregg recalls Dale telling him that Dee left with her purse, her travel bag, her phone, and her curling iron. Dateline Nbc, NBC News, 24 Aug. 2022 An arriving officer talked to the caller, who said a woman shopper was suspected of putting several items into her purse and walking out of the store without making payment. John Benson, cleveland, 24 Aug. 2022 See More
Noun
Genesis looked all grown up in a pleated lavender dress with a small matching purse. Georgia Slater, Peoplemag, 13 Sep. 2022 With electronic dance music and pop hits blaring as players warmed up, the scene felt more like an exhibition than a competitive event with a $25 million purse. Cam Kerry, BostonGlobe.com, 2 Sep. 2022 Jennifer Lawrence opted for contrasting accessories, pairing her matchy-matchy look with an olive green purse, black leather flats, and black, wire-frame sunglasses. Sam Reed, Glamour, 1 Sep. 2022 Senior Women's Open is a 72-hole stroke play event with a $1 million prize purse. Adam Baum, The Enquirer, 5 Aug. 2022 The announcement made on Tuesday by MX Sports Pro Racing and Feld Motor Sports, Inc., would see a new playoff series and championship with a purse of $10 million. Maury Brown, Forbes, 2 Aug. 2022 Mercury/SeaVee sponsored the tournament that attracted 67 fishing teams with a total purse of $136,907. Emmett Hall, Sun Sentinel, 7 July 2022 Gregg recalls Dale telling him that Dee left with her purse, her travel bag, her phone, and her curling iron. Dateline Nbc, NBC News, 24 Aug. 2022 An arriving officer talked to the caller, who said a woman shopper was suspected of putting several items into her purse and walking out of the store without making payment. John Benson, cleveland, 24 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English purs, from Old English, modification of Medieval Latin bursa, from Late Latin, ox hide, from Greek byrsa
First Known Use
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing purse
Kids Definition
purse 1 of 2
noun
ˈpərs
1
: a bag or pouch for money
2
: handbag
3
: the amount of money that a person, organization, or government has available for use
4
: a sum of money offered as a prize or collected as a present
purse
2 of 2verb
pursed; pursing
: to form into a tight circle or line
He … pursed his lips, and blew out a little air. Wilson Rawls, Where the Red Fern Grows
Wilson Rawls, Where the Red Fern Growspurses
noun
as in bags
a container for carrying money and small personal items I left my purse at home, so I can't buy anything after all Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- bags
- wallets
- handbags
- pocketbooks
- pouches
- billfolds
- clutches
- vanities
- minaudières
- clutch bags
- compacts
- sacks
- shoulder bags
- pokes