horse power

Motor strength measurement

Horsepower is a unit measuring the rate at which work is done—the power of engines, motors, and machines.

James Watt coined it to compare steam engines to draft horses, estimating one horse could lift 33,000 pounds one foot per minute.

Today it quantifies everything from cars to lawnmowers: a 300-horsepower engine, How much horsepower does that truck have?

Figuratively, horsepower suggests capacity or strength: We need more horsepower on this project.

Related
  • wattUnit measuring power
  • pullForce toward oneself
  • engineMachine producing motion
  • powertrainVehicle propulsion system
  • mulesEquine crossbreeds or smugglers

oxen · force · energy · torque · draught animals · mechanical · speed · dynamometer · motor · under the hood · James Watt · steam engines · draft · water wheels · heavy lifting · crankshaft · efficiency · muscle

Opposites
power magnitude

horse powerlow power

Insufficient electrical capacity

underpowered · powerlessness · weakness · low output · impotence

energy state

horse powerinertia

Resistance to altered motion

stagnation · immobility · powerlessness · dead engine · stillness

power source type

horse powermanpower

Available labor force

human power · muscle power · human-powered · electric power · solar power

Family

horsepower

Familiarity
Top 1,000,000
Profile
Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Everyday, not technical · Rated G