handbag

«handbag» in Mova's school dictionary: a small bag, often with handles or a strap, used mostly… — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples.

part of speech

noun (a handbag, handbags)

meaning for a pupil

A handbag is a small bag, often with handles or a strap, used mostly by women to carry things like a purse, keys, phone and tissues. tree →

sense in the lessons

In everyday life a handbag holds personal things; in the US it is usually called a purse. In safety lessons: keep bags closed and close to you in crowded places, and never take things from someone else's handbag. In stories a grandma's handbag often holds surprising things like sweets and plasters.

examples

• Mum put her keys in her handbag. tree →
• Grandma always has tissues and mints in her handbag. tree →
• The lady held her handbag tightly on the busy train. tree →
• I found a lost handbag and gave it to the shop manager. tree →
• Her new handbag had a long shoulder strap. tree →
• Never look in someone's handbag without asking. tree →

note

One word, countable: handbags. In US English «purse» usually means handbag; in UK English «purse» is the small wallet for coins inside the handbag. Do not confuse with «bag of hands».

Trees and pragmatics

Every meaning and example of «handbag» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.