potluck
Bring-a-dish gathering
Potluck is a meal where each guest brings a dish to share.
The word combines pot (a cooking vessel) with luck (whatever happens to be available).
A potluck dinner might feature casseroles, salads, and desserts from different contributors: We're having a potluck for the office party—I'm bringing my grandmother's mac and cheese.
Extended to mean whatever is available by chance: take potluck.
Gathering for celebration
- get-togetherCasual social gathering
- dinner-partyFormal meal with guests
- cookoutOutdoor meal over flames
- barbecueSlow-cook over coals
picnic · reunion · meetup · social · function · event · shindig · feast
Mixed collection of things
- diversityState of varied elements
- medleyVaried mixture or blend
- mixtureCombined but unbonded substances
- selectionChosen item or items
array · hodgepodge · smorgasbord · spread · sampling · eclectic · mismatched · random
Shared by a community
- cooperativeJointly operated enterprise
- signupAct of enrolling
- assignedGiven as duty
- coordinationOrganized cooperative movement
planning · volunteer · participation · generosity · sharing · exchange · offering · homemade
Residential area nearby
- churchPlace of Christian worship
- officeProfessional work location
- workplaceEmployment location
- familyRelated people together
friends · coworkers · congregation · club · group · circle · team · fellowship
Chance affecting outcomes
- uncertaintyState of being unsure
- randomnessLack of predictable pattern
- unpredictableCannot be anticipated
- unexpectedNot anticipated beforehand
surprise · serendipity · gamble · risk · fate · fortune · unplanned · spontaneous
party
Gathering for celebration
- get-togetherCasual social gathering
- dinner-partyFormal meal with guests
- cookoutOutdoor meal over flames
barbecue · picnic · reunion · meetup · social · function · event · shindig · feast · supper
assortment
Mixed collection of things
- diversityState of varied elements
- medleyVaried mixture or blend
- mixtureCombined but unbonded substances
selection · array · hodgepodge · smorgasbord · spread · sampling · eclectic · mismatched · random · unpredictable
communal
Shared by a community
- cooperativeJointly operated enterprise
- signupAct of enrolling
- assignedGiven as duty
coordination · planning · volunteer · participation · generosity · sharing · exchange · offering · homemade · recipe
neighborhood
Residential area nearby
family · friends · coworkers · congregation · club · group · circle · team · fellowship · camaraderie
luck
Chance affecting outcomes
- uncertaintyState of being unsure
- randomnessLack of predictable pattern
- unpredictableCannot be anticipated
unexpected · surprise · serendipity · gamble · risk · fate · fortune · unplanned · spontaneous · impromptu
- partiesbirthday party, party, costume party, house party, dinner party
- food culturefood customs, table manners, food traditions, culinary traditions, dining etiquette
- office lifecubicle, desk job, desk jobs, office job, full-time job
- American traditionsFourth of July, Thanksgiving, county fair, state fair, rodeo
- casual gatheringsget-together, hangout, meetup, catch-up, happy hour
- church activitiesSunday school, Bible study, church camp, church socials, church picnic
potlucksit-down dinner
Meal served at tables
takeout · delivery · banquet · tasting menu · buffet service
- potluck dinnersMeals where guests bring food
- potluck dishesMeals brought by attendees
- church potluckCommunal parish meal
- potluck staple
- potluck dishFood brought to share