- purse
- {{Roman}}I.{{/Roman}} noun1 (esp. BrE) for carrying moneyADJECTIVE▪ leather▪ change (AmE)VERB + PURSE▪ open▪ snatch, steal▪
She had her purse snatched.
PREPOSITION▪ in sb's purse▪What do you keep in your purse?
2 money available to an organization/governmentADJECTIVE▪ publicVERB + PURSE▪ drain▪The reforms had drained the public purse.
PURSE + NOUN▪ strings▪Who holds the purse strings in your house?
▪The government will have to tighten the purse strings (= spend less).
PREPOSITION▪ in the purse (esp. BrE)▪There is no money in the purse for this.
3 (AmE) bag for carrying things ⇨ See also ↑handbagADJECTIVE▪ bulging▪She handed him a bulging velvet purse.
▪ leather, silk, etc.▪ matching▪She wore pink heels with a matching clutch purse.
▪ clutchVERB + PURSE▪ clutch, hold▪Both women clutched their purses close to their bodies.
▪ carry▪ grab, pick up, snatch▪She grabbed her purse and headed out the door.
▪ open▪ dig in, dig into, dig through, reach into, rummage through▪I dug in my purse to find my respirator.
▪I rummaged through my purse for my lip gloss.
▪ snatch, steal▪She had her purse snatched.
PURSE + NOUN▪ snatcherPREPOSITION▪ in sb's purse▪What do you keep in your purse?
PHRASES▪ sling a purse over your shoulder, throw a purse over your shoulder▪{{Roman}}II.{{/Roman}}She slung her black leather purse over her shoulder.
verb
Collocations dictionary. 2013.
