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SignOff Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

Pucker, Purse

In the context of lips, how are "pucker" and "purse" different? Some dictionaries say they are the same, some say they are different. A google image search of "puckered lips" gave this image:

http://www.google.com/imgres?q=puckered+lips&um=1&hl=en&biw=1304&bih=717&tbm=isch&tbnid=-ksXtcqFkZq34M:&imgrefurl=http://www.visualphotos.com/image/2x4394950/young_woman_holding_lip_brush_puckering_lips&docid=NB2pauRRIwBbJM&imgurl=http://www.visualphotos.com/photo/2x4394950/young_woman_holding_lip_brush_puckering_lips_westf10817.jpg&w=650&h=453&ei=3Nt9UPjIJcaZiALM8YBY&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=3&sig=113908410485152496694&page=1&tbnh=135&tbnw=196&start=0&ndsp=27&ved=1t:429,r:7,s:0,i:155&tx=55&ty=87

A google image search of "pursed lips" gave something similiar to the first image, and also this image:

http://www.google.com/imgres?q=pursed+lips&num=10&um=1&hl=en&biw=1304&bih=717&tbm=isch&tbnid=G_1U3Q_s-_m6NM:&imgrefurl=http://sportsmediamasters.com/%3Fattachment_id%3D2503&docid=Fd4EjaUZlGAhKM&imgurl=http://sportsmediamasters.com/smm/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Peyton-manning-pursed-lips.jpg&w=454&h=338&ei=Utp9UKLaAsaKjAKWzYHwDw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=356&vpy=353&dur=5416&hovh=194&hovw=260&tx=117&ty=141&sig=113908410485152496694&sqi=2&page=1&tbnh=133&tbnw=178&start=0&ndsp=25&ved=1t:429,r:8,s:0,i:119

To native speakers, are "pucker" and "purse" the same?
  

Top answer

I'm not really an expert in the field, but you might consider the circumstances: Are you just angry -- straining -- struggling, or are you getting ready to kiss someone? The first would be pursing and the second would be puckering.

— Avangi

  • I'm not really an expert in the field, but you might consider the circumstances: Are you just angry -- straining -- struggling, or are you getting ready to kiss someone?
  • The first would be pursing and the second would be puckering.
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9 Answers
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I'm not really an expert in the field, but you might consider the circumstances:
Are you just angry -- straining -- struggling,
or are you getting ready to kiss someone?
The first would be pursing and the second would be puckering.
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Definition 7 of this http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/purse?s=t suggests purse = pucker:

"7. to contract into folds or wrinkles; pucker"

Could it be wrong?
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Image 2 is wrong. Manning's lips are not pursed, they are compressed, pressed together.

When we talk about lips, "purse" and "pucker" have different uses, even though they are near synonyms. We pucker up to kiss, and we purse our lips in distaste or annoyance. I'd say the lips are softer and push out more in a pucker.
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Thank you, enoon!

So, what does "pursed lips" look like?
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SignOffSo, what does "pursed lips" look like
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Thank you, enoon!

So, what would puckered lips look like compared to pursed lips?
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English is a real killer when it comes to a large number of words that have similar meaning...
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Thank you, enoon!

So, what would puckered lips look like compared to pursed lips?
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SignOff------------------------------------------------Thank you, enoon!So, what would puckered lips look like compared to pursed lips?
Any difference is not inherent in the two words. They are about as close to true synonyms as two English words can be. It's just that we tend to use "pucker (up)" for kissy lips and "purse" for Gordon Brown, whom no one wants
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