noun
potpourri
poh-puh-REE
Potpourri (noun) means a mixture of dried, fragrant flowers and plant material, often kept in a bowl to scent a room. Example: “A bowl of potpourri sat on the hallway table.”
noun
1
A mixture of dried, fragrant flowers and plant material, often kept in a bowl to scent a room.
"A bowl of potpourri sat on the hallway table."
2
A varied mixture or collection of different things.
"The show was a potpourri of music styles, from jazz to folk."
How to use potpourri
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither scented dried flowers for a room, or a mixed assortment of things in general.
Common pairings
bowl of potpourri
a potpourri of
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Word forms
- Plural
- potpourris
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A bowl of _____ sat on the hallway table.
Etymology
From French pot-pourri, literally 'rotten pot,' a translation of the Spanish olla podrida — originally the name of a stew, later applied to a mixture of anything.
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “potpourri” mean?
The word “potpourri” means a mixture of dried, fragrant flowers and plant material, often kept in a bowl to scent a room. In plain terms, either scented dried flowers for a room, or a mixed assortment of things in general.
How do you pronounce “potpourri”?
“Potpourri” is pronounced poh-puh-REE (/ˌpoʊ.pʊˈɹiː/ in IPA).
How do you use “potpourri” in a sentence?
Here is “potpourri” used in a sentence: “A bowl of potpourri sat on the hallway table.”
What part of speech is “potpourri”?
“Potpourri” is a noun.
Where does the word “potpourri” come from?
The word “potpourri” comes from French. From French pot-pourri, literally 'rotten pot,' a translation of the Spanish olla podrida — originally the name of a stew, later applied to a mixture of anything.
How many meanings does “potpourri” have?
“Potpourri” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a mixture of dried, fragrant flowers and plant material, often kept in a bowl to scent a room.
