HANDBAG

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does handbag mean? 

• HANDBAG (noun)
  The noun HANDBAG has 1 sense:

1. a container used for carrying money and small personal items or accessories (especially by women)

  Familiarity information: HANDBAG used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• HANDBAG (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A container used for carrying money and small personal items or accessories (especially by women)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

bag; handbag; pocketbook; purse

Context example:

she reached into her bag and found a comb

Hypernyms ("handbag" is a kind of...):

container (any object that can be used to hold things (especially a large metal boxlike object of standardized dimensions that can be loaded from one form of transport to another))

Meronyms (parts of "handbag"):

clasp (a fastener (as a buckle or hook) that is used to hold two things together)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "handbag"):

clutch; clutch bag (a woman's strapless purse that is carried in the hand)

etui (small ornamental ladies' bag for small articles)

evening bag (a handbag used with evening wear)

reticule (a woman's drawstring handbag; usually made of net or beading or brocade; used in 18th and 19th centuries)

shoulder bag (a large handbag that can be carried by a strap looped over the shoulder)

 Context examples 

Very often, the only thing you find is a fine white powder that comes off when taking them out of the handbag or purse.

(Purchase receipts with easily erasable ink contain cancer- and infertility inducing substances, University of Granada)

It was a lady’s hand-bag which stood upon the study table—a trim little handbag of crocodile-skin and silver.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Leo also rules the luxury goods market, such as expensive perfumes, precious jewels, beautiful, quality designer attire, luxury shoes, handbags, scarves, sunglasses, and other accessories, as well as men’s custom-made suits.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

Moreover, we should not crumple the tickets to throw them in the trash, play with them, write notes on them, or store them in cars, purses or handbags.

(Purchase receipts with easily erasable ink contain cancer- and infertility inducing substances, University of Granada)