HDL

Abbreviation with 2 meanings

HDL
Stands forHigh-density lipoprotein (cholesterol)
Meanings2
CategoriesMedical, Science & Engineering

HDL has two meanings. It stands for High-density lipoprotein (cholesterol) (laboratory test) or Hardware description language (electronics & electrical).

Meanings of HDL at a glance

#HDL stands forContext
1High-density lipoprotein (cholesterol)Medical › Laboratory Test
2Hardware description languageScience & Engineering › Electronics & Electrical

1. High-density lipoprotein (cholesterol)

Medical · Laboratory Test Abbreviations

Cholesterol carried in HDL particles, called "good cholesterol" because HDL transports cholesterol from tissues back to the liver. Levels below 40 mg/dL in men or 50 mg/dL in women count as a risk factor, and higher levels are generally associated with lower cardiovascular risk.

Example: HDL 34 with triglycerides of 280, typical of metabolic syndrome.

Drugs that raise HDL, such as niacin and the CETP inhibitor torcetrapib, failed to reduce heart attacks in major trials, showing that the HDL number itself is not a reliable treatment target. Very high HDL does not appear to give extra protection. Regular exercise, weight loss and stopping smoking modestly raise it.

2. Hardware description language

Science & Engineering · Electronics & Electrical Abbreviations

Specialized programming-like language used to describe the structure and behavior of digital circuits, which tools then simulate and synthesize into gates for FPGAs and chips. The two dominant HDLs are Verilog and VHDL.

Example: The CPU core was written in an HDL and verified in simulation before being loaded onto the FPGA.

Verilog was created at Gateway Design Automation in 1984 and standardized as IEEE 1364 in 1995; SystemVerilog extended it for verification. Unlike software, HDL code describes hardware that operates in parallel, which is a common stumbling block for programmers. Newer approaches include high-level synthesis from C++.

More laboratory test abbreviations

  • HbA1c – Hemoglobin A1c (glycated hemoglobin)
  • hCG – Human chorionic gonadotropin
  • HCO3 – Bicarbonate
  • Hct – Hematocrit
  • HFP – Hepatic function panel
  • Hgb – Hemoglobin
  • hs-CRP – High-sensitivity C-reactive protein
  • iCa – Ionized calcium

See all 135 laboratory test abbreviations →

More electronics & electrical abbreviations

  • FPGA – Field-programmable gate array
  • GFCI – Ground-fault circuit interrupter
  • GND – Ground
  • GPIO – General-purpose input/output
  • HV – High voltage
  • I2C – Inter-Integrated Circuit
  • IC – Integrated circuit
  • IF – Intermediate frequency

See all 82 electronics & electrical abbreviations →

Edited by the AbbreviationList.com team. Spotted an error or a missing meaning? Contact us.

This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.