Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Describing a type of phonograph record: "long-playing" specifically refers to a vinyl record format designed to rotate at 33⅓ revolutions per minute (rpm), allowing for a slower playback speed and a significantly longer continuous playing time per side compared to earlier 78 rpm records.

Usage

• The term "long-playing" is used almost exclusively as an attributive adjective to modify the noun "record" or its abbreviation "LP." It describes the physical medium's technical capability.
  • My grandfather has a collection of long-playing records from the 1960s.
  • The transition from 78s to long-playing albums revolutionized how people listened to music.

Advanced Usage

• Historical/Technical Context: The term is inherently historical, marking a specific technological advancement. It is often used when discussing the history of audio formats, music collection, or analog sound.
  • The long-playing format allowed for the concept of the album as a cohesive artistic work.

Variants and Related Words

• LP (noun): The common abbreviation for "long-playing record" or "long-play."
  • She found an original LP of The Beatles' "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band."
• Album (noun): While now used for any collection of songs (CD, digital), it originally derived from the multi-track LP format, which replaced collections of 78 rpm singles in an album-like book.
• 33 rpm / 33⅓ rpm (noun/adjective): A direct reference to the rotational speed, often used synonymously with "long-playing."
  • Make sure the turntable is set to 33 rpm for that record.

Synonyms

• Extended-play: Note: This is not a perfect synonym. "Extended-play" (EP) typically refers to a record shorter than an LP but longer than a single, often at 45 rpm or 33⅓ rpm. "Long-playing" specifically denotes the full-length format.
• Full-length: When describing the musical content (e.g., a full-length album) rather than the physical format itself.

Notes on Usage

• The term is a closed compound adjective ("long-playing"). It is not typically used in phrasal verb constructions or idioms.
• Its usage is largely fixed and technical. One would not say "The record is long-playing" in isolation as a predicate adjective; it is standard to say "It is a long-playing record" or "It is an LP."
• In modern contexts, "LP" or simply "vinyl" is more common than the full term "long-playing record."

Adjective

1. (used of records) playing at a slower speed and for a longer time than earlier records