purse

play

noun \ ˈpərs \

Definition of purse

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

play \-ˌlīk\ adjective

See purse defined for English-language learners

See purse defined for kids

Examples of purse in a Sentence

a golf tournament with a million dollar purse
I left my purse at home, so I can't buy anything after all.

Recent Examples of purse from the Web

When tourists buy Gucci purses in Manhattan’s Chinatown, most of them understand that the bags are fakes.

— aaron gilbreath, Longreads, "Breaking Into China’s Counterfeit Supply Chains," 24 Aug. 2017
At Paris Fashion Week last season, Karl Lagerfeld launched a literal rocket for the finale of his fall 2017 Chanel show, which featured cosmic prints, shimmering silver space boots, and planetary purses.

— emilia petrarca, The Cut, "Bill Nye the Science Guy on Fashion’s Obsession With Space," 21 Aug. 2017
Blackjackcat held off Vyjack and Om to to take the $200,000 purse in a race that drew some of the loudest cheers heard from the grandstand all afternoon.

— ivan carter, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Baffert finishes one-two again ... this time with maidens," 20 Aug. 2017
Several purses and a pair of shoes were stolen from a residence entered by forcing a window.

— sarah lane, Washington Post, "Prince William County crime report," 16 Aug. 2017
Books are such privileged objects here that scholars are forbidden to bring in pens, purses, sharp objects, or drinks.

— ann gibbons, Science | AAAS, "Goats, bookworms, a monk’s kiss: Biologists reveal the hidden history of ancient gospels," 25 July 2017
The purse for this fight is said to be $175 million.

— charles p. pierce, SI.com, "Sideshow Effect: Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Conor McGregor is the worst of sports and society," 20 July 2017
A purse was stolen Tuesday from the 100 block of Walter Ward Boulevard.

— The Aegis, "Police blotter: From Aberdeen to Fallston to Street," 14 July 2017
The analysis is the result of trustees' agreement to tighten the university's purse strings and perform a top-to-bottom review of policies.

— grace schneider, The Courier-Journal, "University of Louisville's nepotism policy under committee review," 12 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'purse.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of purse

Middle English purs, from Old English, modification of Medieval Latin bursa, from Late Latin, ox hide, from Greek byrsa

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

purse Synonyms

Synonyms

bag, handbag, pocketbook

Related Words

clutch, clutch bag, minaudière; billfold, wallet; compact, vanity; poke, pouch, sack; shoulder bag

purse

verb

Definition of purse

pursed; pursing

transitive verb

1 :to put into a purse

2 :pucker, knit

pursed his brow

See purse defined for English-language learners

Examples of purse in a Sentence

She pursed her lips in concentration.
His lips were tightly pursed.

Recent Examples of purse from the Web

As the crowd roared in delight with each blunder, Mariners Manager Scott Servais could only stare silently in the dugout, pursing his lips.

— seth berkman, New York Times, "Seattle’s Five-Error Inning Leads to a Yankees Rout," 27 Aug. 2017
My wife, who had stopped our conversation to read the chyron, sat back and pursed her lips in disgust.

— jordan lebeau, The Root, "On Rape Culture and Men’s Empathy," 31 July 2017
The program allows students pursing their associate's degree to access UAB facilities, libraries and campus events.

— erin edgemon, AL.com, "UAB partners with Calhoun Community College to offer joint admission," 27 July 2017
Valenti is pursing tax increment financing, a development mechanism that allows a developer to capture future taxes generated by a project to pay for certain costs.

— steve vockrodt, kansascity, "Developer thinks about changing up Mission Gateway plan — again," 28 June 2017
Coalson volunteered for a full year as a live-in Academic Success Coordinator at a New Orleans school for girls and boys and found the experience empowering and worth pursing as a career.

— nola community submission, NOLA.com, "Professional Women of St. Tammany award $8,000 in scholarships," 23 June 2017
In short, a lot of it was drinking, smoking weed and pursing intimate relations with neighborhood women.

— jared boyd, AL.com, "Former drug dealer faces his past to invest in the future of Mobile County," 13 June 2017
In the classroom, our teacher would purse her lips and turn the chalk over in her fingers, before returning to the board, as if algebra would build a shelter over our heads.

— elisabeth egan, chicagotribune.com, "Algren Award finalist: "Water like air" by Rebecca Wurtz," 10 June 2017
Indeed, the German press went wild when, with Merkel sitting mutely, her lips pursed, Trump took off in Brussels against Germany.

— david a. andelman, CNN, "Angela Merkel isn't trying to hurt you, Mr. President. Germany is our friend," 30 May 2017

First Known Use of purse

14th century

PURSE Defined for English Language Learners

purse

play

noun

Definition of purse for English Language Learners

: a usually leather or cloth bag used by women for carrying money and personal things
: an amount of money that a person, organization, or government has available to use
: an amount of money that is offered as a prize in a competition (such as a horse race, a golf tournament, or a boxing match)