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purse

noun
\ ˈpərs How to pronounce purse (audio) \

Definition of purse

 (Entry 1 of 2)

1a(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
2a : 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

purse

verb
pursed; pursing

Definition of purse (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : to put into a purse
2 : pucker, knit pursed his brow
Other Words from purse Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about purse

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Other Words from purse

Noun

purselike \ ˈpərs-​ˌlīk How to pronounce purselike (audio) \ adjective

Synonyms for purse

Synonyms: Noun

bag, handbag, pocketbook

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Examples of purse in a Sentence

Noun

 a golf tournament with a million dollar purse I left my purse at home, so I can't buy anything after all.
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Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

 Total purse for the fall meeting will be $6 million. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Del Mar gets encouraging news with 2020 racing schedule," 22 Aug. 2019 For more than half a century, the federal purse has been a transformative driver of equal workplace opportunity in this country. — Tim Fitzsimons, NBC News, "With proposed rule, Trump administration would allow more businesses to discriminate," 14 Aug. 2019

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.

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First Known Use of purse

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for purse

Noun

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

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More Definitions for purse

purse

noun
How to pronounce purse (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of purse

 (Entry 1 of 2)

US : 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)

purse

verb

English Language Learners Definition of purse (Entry 2 of 2)

: to form (your lips) into a tight circle or line

See the full definition for purse in the English Language Learners Dictionary

purse

noun
\ ˈpərs How to pronounce purse (audio) \

Kids Definition of purse

 (Entry 1 of 2)

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

verb
pursed; pursing

Kids Definition of purse (Entry 2 of 2)

: 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

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More from Merriam-Webster on purse

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with purse

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