View synonyms for potpourri

potpourri

[ poh-poo-ree, poh-poo-ree ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

a mixture of dried petals of roses or other flowers with spices, kept in a jar for their fragrance.
a musical medley.
a collection of miscellaneous literary extracts.
any mixture, especially of unrelated objects, subjects, etc.
Synonyms: patchwork, mishmash, hodgepodge, pastiche

potpourri

/ ˌpəʊˈpʊərɪ /

a collection of mixed flower petals dried and preserved in a pot to scent the air
a collection of unrelated or disparate items; miscellany
a medley of popular tunes
a stew of meat and vegetables

1605–15; < French: literally, rotten pot, translation of Spanish olla podrida olla podrida; pot ¹, putrid

C18: from French, literally: rotten pot, translation of Spanish olla podrida miscellany

If that seems a cultural potpourri, that would be the point.

He thought he detected a pleasant smell of herbs, like the potpourri his mother had in bowls in their house.

Betty knows how to make that potpourri that Lloyd's Grandmother Amanthis always kept in the rose-jars in the drawing-room.

It held garnered with loving faith the memories of another day, as a bowl of potpourri still holds the sun of long dead summers.

The opera is a grand potpourri of waltz and polka motives and fresh, bright melodies.

And the rose he married comes to him a shrivelled leaf of a potpourri heap.

April 25, 2024firkin

[fur-kin ]

Start each day with the Word of the Day in your inbox!

By clicking "Sign Up", you are accepting Dictionary.com Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policies.

Browse