[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/purse/)

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# purse

noun (purse, purses); verb (purse your lips)

«purse» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A purse is a small bag for carrying money and coins (UK, Ireland, Australia). [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/purse/#m1)
2. In American English, a purse is a woman's handbag. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/purse/#m2)
3. A purse is the money in a prize: the race had a big purse. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/purse/#m3)
4. To purse your lips is to squeeze them into a small round shape. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/purse/#m4)

### In the lessons

In maths: a place where money is kept; amounts in the purse go up when money is put in and down when it is spent; the price of a purse. In everyday life: carrying coins and cards, keeping your purse safe. In stories: a magic purse that never empties; «she pursed her lips» shows she is cross or thinking.

### Examples

- Mom has $45 in her purse. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/purse/#x1)
- She takes $12 out of her purse to pay. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/purse/#x2)
- A purse costs $18. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/purse/#x3)
- How much money is left in her purse? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/purse/#x4)
- Grandma keeps her coins in a little purse. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/purse/#x5)
- She left her purse on the bus. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/purse/#x6)
- The winner of the race gets the whole purse. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/purse/#x7)
- Mum pursed her lips when she saw the mess. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/purse/#x8)
- Keep your purse zipped in busy places. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/purse/#x9)
- ‘Then give me back the purse,’ said John. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/purse/#x10)

### Note

A container for money, not a number; money taken out of the purse is subtracted, money put in is added. Trap: «a purse costs $18» is the price of the purse, not money inside it. US «purse» = UK «handbag»; UK «purse» = a small coin bag (US «change purse»); a man's is usually a wallet.

## In Jewish tradition

In Proverbs it means a shared money bag, in the words of robbers who invite someone to join them.

**Interpretation.** The tradition reads this as a warning against joining bad company, even when it promises easy gain.

### Examples

- Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse' — (Writings PRO.1.14, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/purse/#x1)

### Note

A container for money, not a number; money taken out of the purse is subtracted, money put in is added. Trap: «a purse costs $18» is the price of the purse, not money inside it. US «purse» = UK «handbag»; UK «purse» = a small coin bag (US «change purse»); a man's is usually a wallet.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «purse» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/purse/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«purse» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/purse.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «purse» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/purse/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«purse» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/purse.html) on Mova free.