HP
Abbreviation with 4 meanings
| Stands for | Horsepower |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 4 |
| Categories | Units & Measurements, Organizations & Companies, Texting & Internet Slang, Medical |
| Also written | hp |
HP has four meanings. The most common are Horsepower (engineering unit) and Hewlett-Packard (company and brand); it can also stand for Hit points and Hypersensitivity pneumonitis.
Meanings of HP at a glance
| # | HP stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Horsepower | Units & Measurements › Engineering Unit |
| 2 | Hewlett-Packard | Organizations & Companies › Company and Brand |
| 3 | Hit points | Texting & Internet Slang › Gaming Slang |
| 4 | Hypersensitivity pneumonitis | Medical › Respiratory |
1. Horsepower (hp)
Units & Measurements · Engineering Unit Abbreviations
Traditional unit of engine and motor power in the US and UK, about 746 watts for mechanical horsepower. Car engines, lawn mowers, outboard motors and electric motors are rated in hp; a midsize sedan typically has 180 to 300 hp.
Example: The turbocharged V6 produces 400 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque.
James Watt defined horsepower in the 1780s as 33,000 foot-pounds per minute after observing mill horses, partly to market his steam engines. Several versions exist: mechanical hp (745.7 W), metric hp or PS (735.5 W) and electrical hp (746 W). Advertised figures are usually measured at the crankshaft, so less reaches the wheels.
2. Hewlett-Packard
Organizations & Companies · Company and Brand Abbreviations
American technology company, officially HP Inc., that makes personal computers, printers and ink, and related services. Headquartered in Palo Alto, California.
Example: The office ordered new HP laptops and a color laser printer.
Founded in 1939 by Bill Hewlett and David Packard in a Palo Alto garage, now known as the birthplace of Silicon Valley; its first product was an audio oscillator sold to Disney for Fantasia. In 2015 Hewlett-Packard split into HP Inc. and Hewlett Packard Enterprise.
3. Hit points
Texting & Internet Slang · Gaming Slang Abbreviations · also used in entertainment
Number representing a character's or enemy's remaining health; reaching zero means defeat. Also called health points, and shown as a health bar in most games.
Example: Boss is at 10% HP, everyone use your ultimates now!
Hit points originated in tabletop wargaming and Dungeons & Dragons, then became standard in video games. "Low HP" is a common warning in team chat. HP is also the name of the computer company Hewlett-Packard and the abbreviation for horsepower, which context makes clear.
4. Hypersensitivity pneumonitis
Medical · Respiratory Abbreviations
Immune-mediated lung disease caused by repeatedly inhaling organic particles, such as bird proteins, molds in hay or hot tubs, and some chemicals, to which a person has become sensitized. It ranges from flu-like episodes after exposure to chronic fibrosis.
Example: Pigeon breeder with mosaic attenuation and centrilobular nodules: nonfibrotic HP, strict antigen avoidance.
Well-known forms include farmer's lung, bird fancier's lung and hot tub lung. Guidelines published in 2020 classify HP as nonfibrotic or fibrotic, the latter carrying a worse prognosis. Identifying and removing the exposure is the most important step, though no antigen is found in many cases. In British texts it is often called extrinsic allergic alveolitis.
Related abbreviations
More engineering unit abbreviations
- gph – Gallons per hour
- gpm – Gallons per minute
- GW – Gigawatt
- GWh – Gigawatt-hour
- hPa – Hectopascal
- HRC – Rockwell hardness C (scale)
- Hz – Hertz
- in-lb – Inch-pound
See all 103 engineering unit abbreviations →
More company and brand abbreviations
- GSK – GlaxoSmithKline
- H&M – Hennes & Mauritz
- H-E-B – Howard E. Butt
- HCL – Hindustan Computers Limited
- HPE – Hewlett Packard Enterprise
- HSBC – Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation
- HSN – Home Shopping Network
- HTC – High Tech Computer Corporation
See all 116 company and brand abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.