portfolio

Etymology

From Italian portafoglio; cognate with French portefeuille (“folder, wallet”), from Latin portāre (“to carry”) and folium (“sheet”). The meaning "collection of responsibilities" came by extension in the 1930s.

noun

1. A case for carrying papers, drawings, photographs, maps and other flat documents.
2. (by extension) The collection of such documents, especially the works of an artist or photographer.
3. (politics) The post and the responsibilities of a cabinet minister or other head of a government department.
4. (finance) The group of investments and other assets held by an investor.
   Private-equity nabobs bristle at being dubbed mere financiers.[…]Much of their pleading is public-relations bluster. Clever financial ploys are what have made billionaires of the industry’s veterans. “Operational improvement” in a portfolio company has often meant little more than promising colossal bonuses to sitting chief executives if they meet ambitious growth targets. That model is still prevalent today. 2013-06-22, “Engineers of a different kind”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8841, page 70
5. (business) A collection of assets; (figurative) any collection of things considered as investments or assets.
   I would like to introduce you to our portfolio of services.
   Father: Darling, and no disrespect to you, Vicar, but what I'm thinking is this. How about a mixed portfolio, whereby we spread him through Judaism, Islam, Hindu, and so on, maintaining a firm base in the Church of England? Mother: It does sound safer. Father: Exactly. February 10 1989, Stephen Fry et al., “Christening”, in A Bit of Fry and Laurie, Season 1, Episode 5
6. A range of products.
   product portfolio