ATP

American  

[ey-tee-pee] / ˈeɪˈtiˈpi /

abbreviation

Biochemistry.

1. adenosine triphosphate: an ester of adenosine and triphosphoric acid, C 10 H 12 N 5 O 4 H 4 P 3 O 9 , formed especially aerobically by the reaction of ADP and an orthophosphate during oxidation, or by the interaction of ADP and phosphocreatine or certain other substrates, and serving as a source of energy for physiological reactions, especially muscle contraction.

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ATP ¹ British  

abbreviation

1. advanced turboprop

2. Association of Tennis Professionals

3. automatic train protection: a safety system which automatically prevents a train from passing through a stop signal

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ATP ² British  

noun

1. adenosine triphosphate; a nucleotide found in the mitochondria of all plant and animal cells. It is the major source of energy for cellular reactions, this energy being released during its conversion to ADP. Formula: C 10 H 16 N 5 O 13 P 3

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ATP Scientific  

/ ā′tē′pē′ /

1. Short for adenosine triphosphate. An organic compound, C ₁₀ H ₁₆ N ₅ O ₁₃ P ₃, that is composed of adenosine and three phosphate groups. It serves as a source of energy for many metabolic processes. ATP releases energy when it is broken down into ADP by hydrolysis during cell metabolism.

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ATP Cultural  

1. A key energy-carrying molecule in biological systems. It is produced in the body through the process of cell respiration and in plants through photosynthesis.

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Usage

What else does ATP mean? While it can stand for many things, the initialism ATP commonly stands for the Association of Tennis Professionals, the cell-powering chemical adenosine triphosphate, and at this point.

Etymology

Origin of ATP

First recorded in 1940–45

Compare meaning

How does atp compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• ATP vs. ADP

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

ATP

The ATP later issued a suspended 16-week ban for a "pattern of behaviour related to his verbal abuse of officials and/or spectators" over the previous 12 months.

From BBC ● Aug. 19, 2026

Modern cells rely heavily on ATP to power metabolism, but ATP is itself a complex molecule produced with the help of enzymes.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 12, 2026

Jodar missed out on a second ATP title, after winning in Morocco in April.

From Barron's ● Aug. 3, 2026

Zverev has denied these allegations, and an investigation by the ATP, the governing body of men’s tennis, found “insufficient evidence to substantiate published allegations of abuse.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 12, 2026

But as the wheel turns further another phosphate group is coupled on and the potent ATP is restored.

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson