[pəːs], (Noun)

Definitions:
- a small pouch of leather or plastic used for carrying money, typically by a woman
(e.g: she had enough in her purse for bus fare)

- a handbag
(e.g: a young woman with a purse hanging from her elbow)


Phrases:
- hold the purse strings
- loosen the purse strings
- tighten the purse strings

Origin:
late Old English purs, alteration of late Latin bursa ‘purse’, from Greek bursa ‘hide, leather’. The current verb sense (from the notion of drawing purse strings) dates from the early 17th century

[pəːs], (Verb)

Definitions:
- (with reference to the lips) pucker or contract, typically to express disapproval or irritation
(e.g: Marianne took a glance at her reflection and pursed her lips disgustedly)


Phrases:
- hold the purse strings
- loosen the purse strings
- tighten the purse strings

Origin:
late Old English purs, alteration of late Latin bursa ‘purse’, from Greek bursa ‘hide, leather’. The current verb sense (from the notion of drawing purse strings) dates from the early 17th century