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

In addition to “Use Me,” the LP spun off the hit single “Lean on Me,” which went to No. 1 and was later inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

But Robyn has always worked slowly, and the rest of the LP is up to her high standards.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

The 15-track LP, a solid representative of the ever-evolving norteño sound coming from the Texas borderlands, begins with a blessing, “29:11.”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 25, 2026

In state records, the legal entity is Angels Baseball LP.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 24, 2026

I held my breath while Vonetta slid the shiny black LP out of its paper sleeve and placed it onto the turntable.

From "P.S. Be Eleven" by Rita Williams-Garcia