◙ noun 1. a small pouch of leather or plastic used for carrying money, typically by a woman • （尤指女用）小钱包，小钱袋 [N. Amer.] a handbag • [北美] 手提包 the money possessed or available to a person or country • 资金，财力；财源 »institutions are funded from the same general purse. 公共机构的资金由国库统一拨付。 a sum of money given as a prize in a sporting contest, especially a boxing match • （尤指拳击比赛）比赛奖金 ◙ verb 1. (with reference to the lips) pucker or contract, typically to express disapproval or irritation • （嘴唇）皱起，缩拢；噘起（多表示不赞成，恼怒） »[with obj.] Marianne took a glance at her reflection and pursed her lips disgustedly. 玛丽安娜瞥了一眼自己的倒影，厌烦地噘起嘴。 »[no obj.] under stress his lips would purse slightly. 他有压力时总是微微噘起嘴。
【IDIOMS】
◘ hold the purse strings 1. have control of expenditure • 掌握开支；掌管财权，掌管钱财 ◘ tighten (或 loosen) the purse strings 1. restrict (or increase) the amount of money available to be spent • 紧缩（或增加）开支
【语源】
1. late Old English, 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 cent