LP

¹ American  

abbreviation

1. long playing; long play:

   1. a vinyl phonograph record played at 33 1/3 rpm and typically containing seven or more tracks, or one or more long classical pieces.

   2. a full-length music album, typically comprised of ten to twelve songs: called LP as an evolution of the traditional long-playing record, albums in other formats are not known by the underlying expanded form, and identified only by the abbreviation.

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L.P. ² American  

Or l.p.

abbreviation

1. long primer.

2. low pressure.

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LP ¹ British  

noun

1. 1. a long-playing gramophone record: usually one 12 inches (30 cm) or 10 inches (25 cm) in diameter, designed to rotate at 33 1/ 3 revolutions per minute Compare EP

   2. ( as modifier )

      an LP sleeve

2. long play: a slow-recording facility on a VCR which allows twice the length of material to be recorded on a tape from that of standard play

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LP ² British  

abbreviation

1. (in Britain) Lord Provost

2. Also: lp.  low pressure

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L/P ³ British  

abbreviation

1. letterpress

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Other Word Forms

• mini-LP noun

Etymology

Origin of LP

First recorded in 1945–50

Example Sentences

LP technology was new, and “Masterpieces by Ellington” was his first long-playing record.

From The Wall Street Journal

For the third straight LP, he opens with a spoken-word number—“Down, Down, Stream,” an impressionistic look back at the past couple of years.

From The Wall Street Journal

Should these come to pass, it would still take a long time for the liquidity to reach LP pockets due to market constraints, such as the lockup period.

From The Wall Street Journal

A single from the LP, “Crystallise My Tears,” prominently features the voice of French musician Oklou, whose album “Choke Enough” was among the most acclaimed of 2025.

From The Wall Street Journal

Though the LP’s concept and song narratives now seem a bit silly and cartoonish, the music remains robust and revolutionary.

From The Wall Street Journal