What does LP stand for? In music it means long playing, as in a long playing record: the 12 inch vinyl disc that spins at 33 1/3 revolutions per minute and holds a full album. In business and law, LP stands for limited partnership, or for a limited partner who invests in one.
Hospitals and propane dealers borrow the two letters as well, from propane tanks to hospital charts. The surrounding words usually settle it. "New LP out Friday" is about music. "Smith Holdings, LP" on a contract is a business form.
Quick facts
LP meanings at a glance
| Field | Stands for | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Music | Long playing record | "I bought the band's first LP." |
| Business and law | Limited partnership | "Harbor Fund II, LP" |
| Investing | Limited partner | "The LPs meet once a year." |
| Home and fuel | Liquefied petroleum (gas) | "This grill runs on LP gas." |
| Medicine | Lumbar puncture | A spinal tap noted in a chart |
Music and business are by far the most searched meanings, so they get the most space below.
What does LP stand for in music?
The long playing record arrived in the late 1940s. Before it, most records spun at 78 rpm and held only a few minutes of sound on each side. The LP used a slower speed, 33 1/3 rpm, and much finer grooves, so one side could hold around 20 minutes or more. That was enough for a whole symphony or a set of songs, and the album as we know it grew from that format.
Today people use LP to mean a full length album, whether it is on vinyl or not. Shorter releases are an EP, extended play, and a single song release is a single. A DJ might still call a stack of vinyl albums "LPs."
Record shop sign: "LPs on the left, 45s on the right." The LPs are full albums at the slow speed, and the 45s are smaller singles that spin at 45 rpm.
What does LP stand for in business?
A limited partnership is a type of business with two kinds of owners:
- General partners run the business and can be personally responsible for its debts.
- Limited partners put in money but do not manage day to day work, and their risk is usually limited to what they invested.
The structure is common for real estate projects, family businesses and investment funds. In private investing, "LPs" is shorthand for the outside investors in a fund, while "GPs" are the managers. An LP is different from an LLC, where every owner usually gets liability protection, and from a company marked Ltd.
LP gas and other uses
On a barbecue, a camper or a rural home tank, LP means liquefied petroleum gas, mostly propane. It is stored under pressure as a liquid and turns back into gas when released. You may also see LPG for the same fuel. In a hospital, LP is a common note for lumbar puncture, a test that takes a small sample of fluid from the lower back.
Writing and saying LP
- Say each letter: "L P."
- Write capitals without periods in music and fuel use.
- Business names often add a comma: "Northline Partners, LP" or "L.P."
- Use "an" before it, because L sounds like "el": "an LP," "an LP agreement."
- The plural is LPs, with no apostrophe.
LP stands for different things, so check the clues
Look at nearby words. Vinyl, album, side A or turntable means music. Partner, fund, agreement or a comma after a company name means business. Tank, grill or BTU means fuel. When none of those clues are present, it is fine to ask. For more two letter puzzles like this, browse the famous acronyms list, or compare the format with the CD.
Questions people ask
What does LP stand for on a vinyl record?
It stands for long playing. It marks a full length album pressed on a 12 inch disc that plays at 33 1/3 rpm.
What is the difference between an LP and an EP?
An LP is a full album, often around 30 to 50 minutes. An EP, extended play, is shorter, usually a handful of songs.
What does LP mean after a company name?
It shows the business is a limited partnership. At least one general partner runs it, and limited partners invest without managing it.
What is an LP in investing?
It is a limited partner, an investor who puts money into a fund but does not manage it. The fund's managers are called general partners.
Is LP gas the same as propane?
In the United States, LP gas is mostly propane, so people often use the terms the same way. Some blends include butane.