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Extended play: meaning, definitions and examples

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extended play

[ ɪkˈstendɪd pleɪ ]

Noun

^{Context #1 | Noun}

music

An extended play (EP) is a musical recording that contains more tracks than a single, but is usually unqualified as an album or LP. EPs generally do not contain enough tracks to qualify as albums.

Synonyms

EP, extended play record, mini-album.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
extended play	Used to describe a music format that is longer than a single but shorter than a full album. Often includes about three to five tracks. The band released an extended play with four new songs. Their extended play features remixes of their most popular tracks.
EP	Abbreviation for 'extended play,' commonly used in casual or industry conversations about music releases. Did you hear the band's new EP? They dropped their EP online yesterday.
mini-album	Frequently used to describe a release that is longer than an EP but still shorter than a full album. It may also imply a slightly more special or elaborate release than a standard EP. Their new mini-album includes six tracks and a bonus acoustic version. This mini-album showcases the band's evolving sound.
extended play record	A more formal or technical way of referring to an extended play, often used in historical or archival contexts. The artist's early work includes an extended play record from 1987. Collectors are searching for the original extended play records.

Examples of usage

Have you listened to the new EP from that band?
She released an EP last year before her full album came out.
The EP features four new songs and two remixes.
The band decided to release an EP to showcase their new sound.
The EP received positive reviews from music critics.

Translations

Translations of the word "extended play" in other languages:

🇵🇹 extended play

🇮🇳 विस्तारित प्ले

🇩🇪 Extended Play

🇮🇩 extended play

🇺🇦 міні-альбом

🇵🇱 extended play

🇯🇵 エクステンデッドプレイ

🇫🇷 extended play

🇪🇸 extended play

🇹🇷 extended play

🇰🇷 확장 플레이

🇸🇦 اللعب الممتد

🇨🇿 rozšířená hra

🇸🇰 rozšírená hra

🇨🇳 扩展播放

🇸🇮 razširjena igra

🇮🇸 lengd spilun

🇰🇿 кеңейтілген ойнату

🇬🇪 გაფართოებული თამაში

🇦🇿 genişləndirilmiş oyun

🇲🇽 extended play

Etymology

The term 'extended play' originated in the 1950s in the music industry to describe releases that were longer than a single but shorter than a full album. EPs became popular for artists to showcase new material or release smaller bodies of work between albums. The format has evolved over the years but continues to be a common way for musicians to share new music with their audience.