ˈbæɡ ˈhændˌbæɡ pɜːs pɝs pɜːs pɝs contract one's lips into a rounded shape gather or contract into wrinkles or folds; pucker purse one's lips a container used for carrying money and small personal items or accessories (especially by women) she reached into her bag and found a comb a small bag for carrying money a sum of money offered as a prize the purse barely covered the winner's expenses a sum of money spoken of as the contents of a money purse he made the contribution out of his own purse he and his wife shared a common purse