portfolio

noun

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.

1. A case for carrying papers, drawings, photographs, maps and other flat documents.

   “He opened an embroidered portfolio; and, from its perfumed depths, took out a letter, which he began to read aloud.”

2. The collection of such documents, especially the works of an artist or photographer, or more generally, a presentation of an individual's work samples and skills (a career portfolio).
3. The post and the responsibilities of a cabinet minister or other head of a government department.

   “His [Jared Kushner's] portfolio extended to foreign policy, as he brokered a new North American trade agreement and negotiated peace deals in the Middle East.”

4. The group of investments and other assets held by an investor.

   “Behind his [Terry Smith's] success is a simple formula: buy shares in companies that make basic necessities – from toilet paper to nappies, baby food to pet food, soap to shampoo. […] It's why his portfolio of just 20 companies includes names such as Unilever […] and Imperial Tobacco (Lambert & Butler, Gauloises, John Player Special, Rizla).”

   “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.”

5. A collection of assets; (figurative) any collection of things considered as investments or assets, (rarely) also liabilities.

   “I would like to introduce you to our portfolio of services.”

   “In the past, thoughts were too real to be kept like a cultural portfolio of stocks and bonds. But now we have mental assets.”

6. A range of products.

   “product portfolio”