potpourri
potpourri Lexical Profile
potpourri Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A mixture of dried, naturally fragrant plant material, such as flower petals, herbs, and spices, placed in a bowl or small sack to provide a gentle scent in a room.
"She placed a ceramic bowl of lavender and rose potpourri on the hallway table to freshen the entryway."
A miscellaneous or eclectic collection, medley, or assortment of diverse things, ideas, or musical pieces.
"The festival program offered a lively potpourri of folk songs, classical chamber music, and modern jazz."
Word Nuance & Usage
The 't' is silent in standard English pronunciation (/ˌpoʊpʊˈriː/), reflecting its French origin.
• Rhymes for potpourri
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the early 17th century from French 'pot-pourri', literally meaning 'rotten pot', which was a translation of the Spanish culinary stew 'olla podrida'. The sense later shifted from a rich stew of mixed meats to a jar of moist, fermenting flower petals used to scent a room.