purse
5 ENTRIES FOUND:
plural
purses
plural
purses
Britannica Dictionary definition of PURSE
1
[count]
a
US
:
a usually leather or cloth bag used by women for carrying money and personal things
:
handbag
2
[singular]
:
an amount of money that a person, organization, or government has available to use
-
Many believe the work should be financed by the public purse. [=should be paid for by the government]
3
[count]
:
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)
-
a golf tournament with a million dollar purse
purse strings
◊ A person, organization, or government that holds/controls the purse strings makes the decisions about how money is spent.
-
The museum's board of directors holds/controls the purse strings.
◊ When a person, organization, or government tightens the purse strings, less money is available for spending.
-
School administrators are already tightening (the) purse strings.
◊ When a person, organization, or government loosens the purse strings, more money is available for spending.
-
Companies are expected to loosen the purse strings as the economy improves.
2
purse
/ˈpɚs/
verb
purses;
pursed;
pursing
2
purse
/ˈpɚs/
verb
purses;
pursed;
pursing
Britannica Dictionary definition of PURSE
[+ object]
:
to form (your lips) into a tight circle or line
-
She pursed her lips in concentration.
-
His lips were tightly pursed.
