Meaning of "potpourri" in the English dictionary

ETYMOLOGY OF THE WORD POTPOURRI

From French, literally: rotten pot, translation of Spanish olla podrida miscellany.

Etymology is the study of the origin of words and their changes in structure and significance.

PRONUNCIATION OF POTPOURRI

potpourri  [ˌpəʊˈpʊərɪ]

GRAMMATICAL CATEGORY OF POTPOURRI

Potpourri is a noun.

A noun is a type of word the meaning of which determines reality. Nouns provide the names for all things: people, objects, sensations, feelings, etc.

WHAT DOES POTPOURRI MEAN IN ENGLISH?

Potpourri

Potpourri /ˌpoʊ pʊˈriː/ is a mixture of dried, naturally fragrant plant material, used to provide a gentle natural scent inside buildings, most commonly in residential settings. It is usually placed in a decorative bowl, or tied in small sachet made from sheer fabric. Potpourri is used inside the home to give the air a pleasant smell. The word "potpourri" comes into English from the French word "pot-pourri." The French term has two connotations. It is the French name for a Spanish stew with a wide variety of ingredients called "olla podrida," specialty of the town of Burgos. The word was taken and copied by the French military during the Napoleonic occupation of Burgos. Literally, however, the word "pot" in French has the same meaning as it does in Spanish and English, while the word "pourri" means rotten. In English, "potpourri" is often used to refer to any collection of miscellaneous or diverse items. In early 17th Century France fresh herbs and flowers were gathered—starting in spring and continuing throughout the summer. The herbs were left for a day or two to become limp, then layered with coarse sea salt.

Definition of potpourri in the English dictionary

The first definition of potpourri in the dictionary is a collection of mixed flower petals dried and preserved in a pot to scent the air. Other definition of potpourri is a collection of unrelated or disparate items; miscellany. Potpourri is also a medley of popular tunes.

SYNONYMS OF «POTPOURRI»

The following words have a similar or identical meaning as «potpourri» and belong to the same grammatical category.

synonyms of potpourri

collection · combination · gallimaufry · hotchpotch · medley · miscellany · mixed bag · mixture · motley · pastiche · patchwork · salmagundi

TRANSLATION OF POTPOURRI

Find out the translation of potpourri to 25 languages with our English multilingual translator.

The translations of potpourri from English to other languages presented in this section have been obtained through automatic statistical translation; where the essential translation unit is the word «potpourri» in English.

• Translator English - Chinese: 花香
• Translator English - Spanish: potpourri
• English: potpourri
• Translator English - Hindi: शुष्क अतर
• Translator English - Arabic: مجففات
• Translator English - Russian: попурри
• Translator English - Portuguese: potpourri
• Translator English - Bengali: পোটপৌরি
• Translator English - French: pot-pourri
• Translator English - Malay: Potpourri
• Translator English - German: Potpourri
• Translator English - Japanese: ポプリ
• Translator English - Korean: 포푸리
• Translator English - Javanese: Potpourri
• Translator English - Vietnamese: nồi lẩu thập cẩm
• Translator English - Tamil: உதிர்ந்த கதம்பச் சொற்கள்
• Translator English - Marathi: पोपट
• Translator English - Turkish: potpuri
• Translator English - Italian: pot-pourri
• Translator English - Polish: potpourri
• Translator English - Ukrainian: попурі
• Translator English - Romanian: potpuriu
• Translator English - Greek: ποτ πουρί
• Translator English - Afrikaans: potpourri
• Translator English - Swedish: potpurri
• Translator English - Norwegian: potpourri

10 ENGLISH BOOKS RELATING TO «POTPOURRI»

Discover the use of potpourri in the following bibliographical selection. Books relating to potpourri and brief extracts from same to provide context of its use in English literature.

Potpourri Making Simple and Easy

Potpourri Making Simple And Easy is a reference on making fragrant potpourri from flowers, husks, leaves, spices, peels, oils and more.

Data Notes Staff, 1993

Ancestry Potpourri

Ancestry Potpourri is a Do-it-yourself book or games designed to provide pertinent facts about ancestors and descendants for seven generations... less, if desired.

Barbara M. Drew, 2012

Potpourri: Short Stories, Observations and Essays by Martin ...

This book is called "Potpourri," defined as a mixture or stew, as it contains short stories (published since 2009), a year and a half of ""Observations,"" and something new, ""Last Words,"" which are essays ""On Growing Old," "On Writing," ...

Martin Green, 2011

The miniature book of potpourri

Provides step-by-step instructions for eighteen scented potpourri mixtures

Judy Taylor, 1991

Paper Piecing Potpourri: Fun-Filled Projects for Every Quilter

In this manual the editors of Quilter's Newsletter and Quiltmaker magazines dish up a serving of quilt designs using paper piecing.

Diane Kennedy-Jackson, Quilter's Newsletter Magazine, 2003

Potpourri: solo marimba

Potpourri was written with a dual purpose: 1) To be a showpiece for the most advanced players, and 2) To be a practical tool to help advancing marimbists. 5 movements in 5 different styles. (Difficult)

Matthew Harris, 1996

Scented Potpourri & Floral Gifts: Gifts from Nature Series

This book includes plenty of recipes for sweet-smelling mixtures, and projects for making delicate sachets, sumptuous bags and scented cushions of velvet and organza, you can create aromatic gifts your yourself and your friends.

Beverley Jollands, 2004

Making Potpourri: Storey's Country Wisdom Bulletin A-130

Using. Up. Your. Oils. If you try many recipes you are bound to have odds and ends of oils. Far better to use them than simply store for some future date. □ Put a few drops of any oil on a cotton ball; let the business end of your vacuum cleaner ...

Madeleine H. Siegler, 1991

The scented room: Cherchez's book of dried flowers, ...

A richly illustrated guide on using dried flowers in the home

Barbara Milo Ohrbach, Anne Marie Cloutier, Joe Standart, 1986

How to design & make potpourri & scented bouquets: an ...

An illustrated step-by-step guide to creating and designing potpourri and scented bouquets features discussions of the thirty plant species from which to choose and precise instructions.

Anne Effelsberg, 1993

10 NEWS ITEMS WHICH INCLUDE THE TERM «POTPOURRI»

Find out what the national and international press are talking about and how the term potpourri is used in the context of the following news items.

Historical Potpourri: McSween house excavations

At the Visitor Center at Lincoln Historical Site, David T. Kirkpatrick, Ph.D, gave an account of McSween house excavations, explaining terms like ... «Ruidoso News, Jul 15»

Families Forever seminar slated

ADVERTISEMENT. MORE POTPOURRI. arrow Potpourri :: 07-27-2015 arrow Potpourri :: 07-25-2015 arrow Potpourri :: 07-22-2015 arrow ... «Butler Eagle, Jul 15»

Family, friends rally for Bismarck man

During the trial, Johnson said he refused to sell the potpourri or pipes to anyone who indicated they intended to use them in an illegal fashion. «Bismarck Tribune, Jul 15»

A regional potpourri

Pratibimb was born in 2010 to provide a platform to contemporary Marathi theatre. The five-day festival commencing from August 1 at NCPA will ... «The Asian Age, Jul 15»

Potpourri

Kelsey Settles of Owensboro, Ky., stands with her trophy on the awards stand after winning the Rally Masters Division at the All-American Soap ... «Houston Chronicle, Jul 15»

The Phoenix Potpourri: Minimum-wage hike tweak deferred until …

The Portland City Council will reconsider the mechanics of a minimum wage hike on Wednesday, Sept. 9, when councilors will take a closer ... «Portland Phoenix, Jul 15»

Potpourri: Man, 21, dies in pool at home of Demi Moore

LOS ANGELES - A 21-year-old man drowned in the backyard pool of the Los Angeles home of actress Demi Moore early Sunday, authorities ... «Houston Chronicle, Jul 15»

History, hexes feature in criminal potpourri

In addition to their regular mixture of celebrity gossip and scandals mixed with practical advice for readers — such as how to quit smoking or ... «The Japan Times, Jul 15»

Smith: Political potpourri

Is Bruce Lisman considering a bid for governor? That's what some are saying Lisman is telling them. In fact, one local businessman said ... «Barre Montpelier Times Argus, Jul 15»

Haslett library exhibit 'Art Potpourri' opens Aug. 1

HASLETT – The BOOKEND GALLERY's exhibit of art, entitled “ART Potpourri,” by local artist Jo Bartha will open 2-4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1. «Lansing State Journal, Jul 15»