PORTFOLIO

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does portfolio mean? 

• PORTFOLIO (noun)
  The noun PORTFOLIO has 4 senses:

1. a large, flat, thin case for carrying loose papers or drawings or maps; usually leather

2. a set of pieces of creative work collected to be shown to potential customers or employers

3. a list of the financial assets held by an individual or a bank or other financial institution

4. the role of the head of a government department

  Familiarity information: PORTFOLIO used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PORTFOLIO (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A large, flat, thin case for carrying loose papers or drawings or maps; usually leather

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Context example:

he remembered her because she was carrying a large portfolio

Hypernyms ("portfolio" is a kind of...):

case (a portable container for carrying several objects)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A set of pieces of creative work collected to be shown to potential customers or employers

Classified under:

Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects

Context example:

every actor has a portfolio of photographs

Hypernyms ("portfolio" is a kind of...):

set (a group of things of the same kind that belong together and are so used)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A list of the financial assets held by an individual or a bank or other financial institution

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Context example:

they were disappointed by the poor returns on their stock portfolio

Hypernyms ("portfolio" is a kind of...):

list; listing (a database containing an ordered array of items (names or topics))

Sense 4

Meaning:

The role of the head of a government department

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Context example:

he holds the portfolio for foreign affairs

Hypernyms ("portfolio" is a kind of...):

function; office; part; role (the actions and activities assigned to or required or expected of a person or group)

 Context examples 

I found that sketch in my portfolio the other day, touched it up, and kept it to show you.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Several previous experiences which have lain long in my portfolio have been added to His Last Bow so as to complete the volume.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I had scarce tied the strings of the portfolio, when, looking at his watch, he said abruptly—It is nine o'clock: what are you about, Miss Eyre, to let Adele sit up so long?

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

The NCI research portfolio is organized around the CSO categories.

(Common Scientific Outline NCI, NCI Thesaurus)

You might also be going over your investment portfolio with your banker or financial advisor.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

For example, upon the domestic habits of the pterodactyl—'(A voice: 'Bosh,' and uproar)—'I say, that upon the domestic habits of the pterodactyl we can throw a flood of light. I can exhibit to you from my portfolio a picture of that creature taken from life which would convince you—'

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Emma wished to go to work directly, and therefore produced the portfolio containing her various attempts at portraits, for not one of them had ever been finished, that they might decide together on the best size for Harriet.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

Meg had a cushion, Jo a book, Beth a basket, and Amy a portfolio.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

I brought the portfolio from the library.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

Meet with your financial adviser, go over your earnings, and see if any tweaks to your portfolio are necessary.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)