potpourri

Alternative forms

• pot pourri

Etymology

French pot pourri, meaning "rotten pot", calque from Spanish olla podrida, same meaning and name of a stew.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /pəʊˈpʊəɹ.i/, /pəʊˈpɔːɹ.i/

Noun

potpourri (plural potpourris)

1. A collection of various things; an assortment, mixed bag or motley.
2. An anthology of miscellaneous prose.
3. (music) A medley of songs or music.
4. A mixture of dried fragrant plant material, often in a decorative bowl, used to scent a room.

See also

• pot-au-feu

Etymology

From French pot pourri (“rotten pot”), itself a calque from Spanish olla podrida.

Pronunciation

• Audio

  (file)

• Hyphenation: pot‧pour‧ri

Noun

potpourri m (plural potpourri's, diminutive potpourrietje n)

1. several songs strung together (medley).
2. A mixture of dried fragrant plant material, often in a decorative bowl, used to scent a room.
3. A number of varied literary articles.

Noun

potpourri m (plural potpourris)

1. Alternative spelling of pot-pourri