1 [count] a : a container made of thin material (such as paper, plastic, or cloth) that opens at the top and is used for holding or carrying things
▪ She packed her lunch in a paper bag. ▪ (US) a garbage/trash bag = (Brit) a rubbish bag ▪ (US) grocery bags = (Brit) carrier bags [=plastic or paper bags used for holding items bought at a store]
b : a soft container carried by a woman and used to hold money and other small things (such as keys or makeup)
▪ She put the pencil in her bag. — see also handbag, shoulder bag
c : a container used for carrying personal things (such as clothes) when you are going somewhere
▪ an overnight bag ▪ a gym bag — usually plural ▪ We carried our bags [=suitcases, luggage] to the hotel room. ▪ She packed her bags and left. 2 [count] : the amount of something that is inside a bag
▪ We ate two bags [=bagfuls] of potato chips. ▪ a bag of apples/flour/fertilizer 3 bags [plural] : an area of swollen and often dark skin under a person's eyes
▪ a tired old man with bags under his eyes 4 [singular] : a collection of different things (such as ideas)
▪ They tried using their usual bag of tricks. — see also grab bag, mixed bag, ragbag 5 [singular] informal + old-fashioned : something that a person likes to do : something that a person does well
▪ Housecleaning isn't her bag. [=she doesn't like housecleaning] ▪ I've tried living in the city, but it's just not my bag. 6 [count] baseball : a square white bag that marks the position of first base, second base, and third base
▪ He slid into the bag and was safe at second base. 7 [count] informal — used as an insulting word for an old woman ▪ Shut up, you old bag! 8 bags [plural] Brit, informal : a large amount of something
▪ There's no need to hurry. We've still got bags [=lots] of time.