different between potpourri vs patchwork

English

Alternative forms

• pot pourri

Etymology

From French pot-pourri (“stew, potpourri”), a Calque of Spanish olla podrida (“stew”, literally “rotten pot”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?p??p???i?/, /p???p???.i/, /p???p???.i/

Noun

potpourri (countable and uncountable, 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.
5. A ragout or stew of meat and vegetables.

Translations

See also

• pot-au-feu

Dutch

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

• 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.

Synonyms

• medley (1)

Portuguese

Noun

potpourri m (plural potpourris)

1. Alternative spelling of pot-pourri

English

Etymology

From patch +? work

Noun

patchwork (countable and uncountable, plural patchworks)

1. A work, such as a blanket, composed of many different colors and shapes, sewn together to make an interesting whole.
2. (figuratively) Any kind of creation that utilizes many different aspects to create one whole piece.

   Bill took all of his poetry and put it together in a folder. It made up a patchwork of his life.

3. (derogatory) A state of regulations whose constituents have an opaque scope of application because of their questionable delimitation with regard to each other.

Related terms

Translations

Verb

patchwork (third-person singular simple present patchworks, present participle patchworking, simple past and past participle patchworked)

1. To create a patchwork from pieces of fabric.
2. To assemble from a variety of sources; to cobble together.

References

• “patchwork”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–present.

French

Etymology

Borrowed from English patchwork.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /pat.?w??k/

Noun

patchwork m (plural patchworks)

1. patchwork

Italian

Etymology

Borrowed from English patchwork.

Noun

patchwork m (invariable)

1. patchwork (all senses)

Spanish

Etymology

Borrowed from English patchwork.

Noun

patchwork m (plural patchworks)

1. patchwork