hp

IPA/ˌeɪtʃˈpiː/
KK[ˈetʃpˈi]IPA/ˌeɪtʃˈpiː/

hp — noun

1. a way of buying goods in the UK by paying a small amount of money at first and t

1.nounB2
Definition

a way of buying goods in the UK by paying a small amount of money at first and then making regular payments over an agreed period of time, used especially for expensive items such as cars or furniture.

Example

Chidi bought the washing machine on hp and paid for it over eighteen months.

buy + on hp + payment period

The shop offered a special hp deal with zero interest for the first year.

hp deal / hp agreement

Common collocations
  • on hp
  • hp agreement
  • hp deal
  • buy something on hp
  • get something on hp
Synonyms
  • installment plan

    US equivalent; same concept but different legal structure

  • credit sale

    broader term covering any sale where payment is deferred

Grammar Patterns

hp + on + item (e.g. buy on hp)

Usage Note

This sense is mainly used in the UK. In the US, the term 'installment plan' or 'installment loan' is more common for the same concept.

Common Mistakes

I bought the car on HP with my credit card.
I bought the car on hp through a hire purchase agreement.
hp refers to the hire purchase system itself, not a payment method like a card.
Signing the hp means you own the item immediately.
Under an hp agreement, you only own the item after the final payment.
in hire purchase, ownership transfers only after all payments are made.

2. a unit for measuring the power of an engine, often used when describing cars, bo

2.nounB1
Definition

a unit for measuring the power of an engine, often used when describing cars, boats, or machines.

Example

The new truck has a two-hundred-hp engine that can pull heavy loads up steep hills.

number + hp + engine

Daichi compared the horsepower of several cars before picking the best model for mountain roads.

compare / measure horsepower

Common collocations
  • engine horsepower
  • hp rating
  • deliver hp
  • produce hp
  • increase hp
Synonyms

Grammar Patterns

number + hp

hp + engine / motor

Usage Note

Frequently used with a number and the abbreviation 'hp' (e.g., 'a 150 hp motor'). When written out in full, 'horsepower' does not change form in the plural ('50 horsepower').

Common Mistakes

The car has 200 horsepowers.
The car has 200 hp.' or 'The car has 200 horsepower.
'horsepower' stays the same in plural.

3. a reduced salary equal to half of a person's normal wages, usually given when so

3.nounC1
Definition

a reduced salary equal to half of a person's normal wages, usually given when someone is not working full-time, is suspended from work, or is on long-term leave.

Example

The soldier received half pay while waiting for his medical discharge from the army.

put on half pay

During the suspension, the manager received only hp for three months until the investigation ended.

Common collocations
  • on half pay
  • put on half pay
  • receive half pay
  • half-pay status
Synonyms
  • reduced pay

    broader term; half pay is a specific 50% reduction

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

on half pay

put on half pay

receive half pay

Usage Note

Common in British employment and military contexts. Often used in the phrase 'on half pay' as a fixed expression describing the employee's status.

Common Mistakes

I work half pay now because I only do part-time.
I am on half pay because I was suspended from my job.
'half pay' is a specific reduced-wage status imposed by an employer, not a synonym for part-time pay.

4. a condition in which a gas or liquid is strongly compressed, often within a mach

4.nounB2
Definition

a condition in which a gas or liquid is strongly compressed, often within a machine or container; also used in weather forecasts to describe a zone where the air pressure is higher than the surrounding area, usually bringing clear weather.

Example

The boiler operates at very high pressure and must be inspected every six months.

operate at high pressure

A high-pressure system over the region brought clear blue skies and warm temperatures all week.

high-pressure system / zone (weather)

Common collocations
  • high-pressure system
  • under high pressure
  • high-pressure environment
  • hp zone
  • operate at high pressure
Synonyms
Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

under high pressure

high-pressure system / zone

Usage Note

In weather contexts, 'high pressure' is often shortened to 'hp' in written forecasts. In engineering contexts, 'high pressure' can be written as 'HP' in uppercase.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/2

Horsepower (hp) is the most widely understood measure of engine power in everyday contexts, especially in car and boat advertising. Brake horsepower (bhp) is a more precise figure that measures power directly at the engine's output shaft, so it is often slightly higher than the same engine's hp figure. Kilowatts (kW) are the metric-system equivalent; 1 hp equals roughly 0.746 kW. Torque is a related but different concept — it measures rotational force rather than the engine's overall power output over time. For example, a car with 200 hp and high torque will feel powerful when pulling a trailer, but acceleration depends more on hp. When reading vehicle specs, knowing whether the number is hp or bhp helps you compare engines accurately across different manufacturers.

horsepower ↗bhpkWtorque ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • hp rating
  • hp output
  • hp level
  • hp system

Phrases

  • buy something on hp
  • put someone on hp
  • operate at hp

Prepositions

  • on hp
  • under hp
  • at hp

Etymology

English

'Hp' is a written abbreviation formed by taking the first letter of each word in the phrases 'hire purchase', 'horsepower', 'half pay', and 'high pressure'. The abbreviation for 'horsepower' was coined by engineer James Watt in the late 18th century when he compared the power of steam engines to that of draft horses. The other meanings developed independently in the 19th and 20th centuries as shorthand in business, employment, and engineering writing.