Purse Definition: Pronunciation, Synonyms, and Fun Exercises

Whether you are shopping, traveling, or simply chatting with friends, “purse” in English appears in many everyday situations.

From the “purse” description, you know that it is used to carry something, and there are many words that can be used instead of “purse” if you want to avoid repetition.

Related nouns: wallet clutch pouch bag

Synonyms (contextual): handbag

Common collocations: purse strap coin purse clutch purse

Understanding how the term “purse” can work with other words helps describe accessories more naturally, whether you want to discuss what you need to do with a purse or how it looks.

With adjectives: small purse expensive purse leather purse designer purse

With verbs: carry a purse open a purse grab a purse lose a purse

With nouns (noun + noun): purse strap purse hook coin purse evening purse

The meaning of “purse” has been turned into a metaphor by English speakers through various idioms. Most of the time these expressions are related to the idea of money and power, as coins were usually kept in a purse.

• Common purse — funds that a bunch of people are sharing.

  Are the bills going to be paid with the money in our common purse, and is it enough?

• A light purse — meaning having no money at all or just being broke.

  Despite the lack of money, she enjoyed Europe with a light purse.

Are you ready to check whether you can answer the question, “What does a ‘purse’ mean?” Complete these exercises to be able to use this word confidently.

Wondering how to say “purse” in German or Spanish? Here is how this everyday accessory is named in three widely spoken European languages.

You can define a “purse” and grasp the use of some idioms with it, so it is now a good time to expand your knowledge by getting to know cultural insights, such as origin, value, and designs, for instance.

• The word “purse” dates back to the ancient Greek language.

  The English word “purse” has a direct link with the Greek word ‘byrsa’, which can translate as ‘hide’ or ‘leather’. It went first to Latin and then to Old French, before finally being taken up in English around the time of the Middle Ages.

• Men used purses for centuries before women did.

  In ancient Rome and medieval times, men used to wear small leather pouches on their belts to hold coins and other small items. Women’s purses only started to be considered as stylish accessories in the late 1800s.

• The most costly purse in the world was sold for more than a million dollars.

  Some rare designs of luxury handbags from brands like Hermès have fetched record-breaking prices at auction, thus increasing their value above that of other luxury items like cars or properties.

• Purse styles mirror the historical culture.

  Due to the limited supply of materials during World War II, purses were made of wood, plastic, and even parachutes. The purses of each period speak volumes about fashion, economy, and daily life.

“Purse” has been the term used by authors and rulers in the past to indicate opulence, intelligence, and liberality. Check out a few of those sayings: