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counter - 25 dictionary results
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count⋅er

1  [koun-ter]
Use counter in a Sentence
–noun
1. a table or display case on which goods can be shown, business transacted, etc.
2. (in restaurants, luncheonettes, etc.) a long, narrow table with stools or chairs along one side for the patrons, behind which refreshments or meals are prepared and served.
3. a surface for the preparation of food in a kitchen, esp. on a low cabinet.
4. anything used in keeping account, as a disk of metal or wood, used in some games, as checkers, for marking a player's position or for keeping score.
5. an imitation coin or token.
6. a coin; money.
—Idioms
7. over the counter,
a. (of the sale of stock) through a broker's office rather than through the stock exchange.
b. (of the sale of merchandise) through a retail store rather than through a wholesaler.
8. under the counter, in a clandestine manner, esp. illegally: books sold under the counter.
Origin:
1300–50; ME countour < AF (OF comptoir) < ML computātorium place for computing, equiv. to L computā(re) to compute + -tōrium -tory 2 ; cf. count 1
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count⋅er

2  [koun-ter]
–noun
1. a person who counts.
2. a device for counting revolutions of a wheel, items produced, etc.
3. Cards. card counter.
4. Computers. a storage register or program variable used to tally how often something of interest occurs.
5. Electronics. scaler (def. 2).
6. Physics. any of various instruments for detecting ionizing radiation and for registering counts.

Origin:
1325–75; ME countour < AF (OF conteor) ≪ L computātor, equiv. to computā(re) to compute + -tor -tor

coun⋅ter

3  [koun-ter]
–adverb
1. in the wrong way; contrary to the right course; in the reverse or opposite direction.
2. contrary; in opposition (usually prec. by run or go): to run counter to the rules.
–adjective
3. opposite; opposed; contrary.
–noun
4. something that is opposite or contrary to something else.
5. a blow delivered in receiving or parrying another blow, as in boxing.
6. a statement or action made to refute, oppose, or nullify another statement or action.
7. Fencing. a circular parry.
8. a piece of leather or other material inserted between the lining and outside leather of a shoe or boot quarter to keep it stiff.
9. Nautical. the part of a stern that overhangs and projects aft of the sternpost of a vessel.
10. Also called void. Typesetting. any part of the face of a type that is less than type-high and is therefore not inked.
11. Engineering, Building Trades. a truss member subject to stress only under certain partial loadings of the truss.
12. the part of a horse's breast that lies between the shoulders and under the neck.
–verb (used with object)
13. to go counter to; oppose; controvert.
14. to meet or answer (a move, blow, etc.) by another in return.
–verb (used without object)
15. to make a counter or opposing move.
16. to give a blow while receiving or parrying one, as in boxing.
Origin:
1400–50; late ME countre < AF co(u)ntre, cuntre, OF contre < L contrā against. See counter-

coun⋅ter

4  [koun-ter]
–verb (used with object)
to encounter in opposition or combat.
Origin:
1250–1300; ME countren, aph. var. of acountren < MF acontrer. See a- 5 , encounter

counter-

 
a combining form of counter 3 , used with the meanings “against,” “contrary,” “opposite,” “in opposition or response to” (countermand); “complementary,” “in reciprocation,” “corresponding,” “parallel” (counterfoil; counterbalance); “substitute,” “duplicate” (counterfeit).
Origin:
ME countre-; see counter 3

count

1  [kount]
–verb (used with object)
1. to check over (the separate units or groups of a collection) one by one to determine the total number; add up; enumerate: He counted his tickets and found he had ten.
2. to reckon up; calculate; compute.
3. to list or name the numerals up to: Close your eyes and count ten.
4. to include in a reckoning; take into account: There are five of us here, counting me.
5. to reckon to the credit of another; ascribe; impute.
6. to consider or regard: He counted himself lucky to have survived the crash.
–verb (used without object)
7. to count the items of a collection one by one in order to determine the total: She counted three times before she was satisfied that none was missing.
8. to list or name numerals in order: to count to 100 by fives.
9. to reckon numerically.
10. to have a specified numerical value.
11. to be accounted or worth something: That first try didn't count—I was just practicing.
12. to have merit, importance, value, etc.; deserve consideration: Every bit of help counts.
13. to have worth; amount (usually fol. by for): Intelligence counts for something.
–noun
14. the act of counting; enumeration; reckoning; calculation: A count of hands showed 23 in favor and 16 opposed.
15. the number representing the result of a process of counting; the total number.
16. an accounting.
17. Baseball. the number of balls and strikes, usually designated in that order, that have been called on a batter during a turn at bat: a count of two balls and one strike.
18. Law. a distinct charge or theory of action in a declaration or indictment: He was found guilty on two counts of theft.
19. Textiles.
a. a number representing the size or quality of yarn, esp. the number based on the relation of weight to length of the yarn and indicating its degree of coarseness.
b. the number of warp and filling threads per square inch in woven material, representing the texture of the fabric.
20. Bowling. the number of pins struck down by the first ball rolled by a bowler in the frame following a spare and included in the score for the frame in which the spare was made.
21. Physics.
a. a single ionizing reaction registered by an ionization chamber, as in a Geiger counter.
b. the indication of the total number of ionizing reactions registered by an ionization chamber in a given period of time.
22. Archaic. regard; notice.
23. the count, Boxing. the calling aloud by the referee of the seconds from 1 to 10 while a downed boxer remains off his feet. Completion of the count signifies a knockout, which the referee then declares: A hard right sent the challenger down for the count. Also called the full count.
–adjective
24. noting a number of items determined by an actual count: The box is labeled 50 count.
—Verb phrases
25. count down, to count backward, usually by ones, from a given integer to zero.
26. count in, to include: If you're going to the beach, count me in.
27. count off, (often used imperatively, as in the army) to count aloud by turns, as to arrange positions within a group of persons; divide or become divided into groups: Close up ranks and count off from the left by threes.
28. count on or upon, to depend or rely on: You can always count on him to lend you money.
29. count out,
a. Boxing. to declare (a boxer) a loser because of inability to stand up before the referee has counted 10 seconds.
b. to exclude: When it comes to mountain climbing, count me out.
c. to count and apportion or give out: She counted out four cookies to each child.
d. to disqualify (ballots) illegally in counting, in order to control the election.
—Idiom
30. count coup. coup 1 (def. 4).
Origin:
1275–1325; (v.) ME counten < AF c(o)unter, OF conter < L computāre to compute; (n.) ME counte < AF c(o)unte, OF conte < LL computus calculation, reckoning, n. deriv. of computāre

scal⋅er

  [skey-ler]
–noun
1. a person or thing that scales.
2. Also called counter, scaling circuit. Electronics. an electronic circuit devised to give a single pulse as output after a certain number of input pulses.
Origin:
1605–15; scale 1 , scale 3 + -er 1
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To counter
coun·ter 1   (koun'tər)   
adj.  Contrary; opposing: moves and counter moves on the checkerboard.
n.  
  1. One that is an opposite.
  2. Sports A boxing blow given while receiving or parrying another.
  3. Sports A fencing parry in which one foil follows the other in a circular fashion.
  4. A stiff piece of leather around the heel of a shoe.
  5. Nautical The portion of a ship's stern extending from the water line to the extreme outward swell.
  6. Printing The depression between the raised lines of the face on a piece of type.
v.   coun·tered, coun·ter·ing, coun·ters

v.   tr.
  1. To meet or return (a blow) by another blow.
  2. To move or act in opposition to; oppose.
  3. To offer in response: countered that she was too busy to be thorough.
v.   intr.
To move, act, or respond so as to be in opposition.
adv.  
  1. In a contrary manner or direction.
  2. To or toward an opposite or dissimilar course or outcome: a method running counter to traditional techniques.

[Middle English countre, from Old French contre, from Latin contrā; see counter-.]
count·er 2   (koun'tər)   
n.  
  1. A flat surface on which money is counted, business is transacted, or food is prepared or served.
  2. Games A piece, as of wood or ivory, used for keeping a count or a place.
    1. An imitation coin; a token.
    2. A piece of money.

[Middle English countour, from Anglo-Norman counteour, from Medieval Latin computātōrium, countinghouse, from Latin computāre, to calculate; see count1.]
count·er 3   (koun'tər)   
n.  One that counts, especially an electronic or mechanical device that automatically counts occurrences or repetitions of phenomena or events.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source

Counter

Coun"ter\ (koun"t?r-).

Note: [See Counter, adv. ] A prefix meaning contrary, opposite, in opposition; as, counteract, counterbalance, countercheck. See Counter, adv. & a.

Counter

Count"er\ (koun"t?r), n. [OE. countere, countour, a counter (in sense 1), OF. contere, conteor, fr. conter to count. See Count, v. t. ]

1. One who counts, or reckons up; a calculator; a reckoner.

2. A piece of metal, ivory, wood, or bone, used in reckoning, in keeping account of games, etc.

The old gods of our own race whose names . . . serve as counters reckon the days of the week. --E. B. Tylor.

What comes the wool to? . . . I can not do it without counters. --Shak.

3. Money; coin; -- used in contempt. [Obs.]

To lock such rascal counters from his friends. --Shak.

4. A prison; either of two prisons formerly in London.

Anne Aysavugh . . . imprisoned in the Counter. --Fuller.

5. A telltale; a contrivance attached to an engine, printing press, or other machine, for the purpose of counting the revolutions or the pulsations. --Knight.

Counter

Coun"ter\, n. [OE. countour, OF. contouer, comptouer, F. comptoir, LL. computatorium, prop., a computing place, place of accounts, fr. L. computare. See Count, v. t.] A table or board on which money is counted and over which business is transacted; a long, narrow table or bench, on which goods are laid for examination by purchasers, or on which they are weighed or measured.

Counter

Coun"ter\, adv. [F. contre, fr. L. contra against. Cf. Contra-.]

1. Contrary; in opposition; in an opposite direction; contrariwise; -- used chiefly with run or go.

Running counter to all the rules of virtue. --Locks.

2. In the wrong way; contrary to the right course; as, a hound that runs counter.

This is counter, you false Danish dogs! --Shak.

3. At or against the front or face. [R.]

Which [darts] they never throw counter, but at the back of the flier. --Sandys.

Counter

Coun"ter\, a. Contrary; opposite; contrasted; opposed; adverse; antagonistic; as, a counter current; a counter revolution; a counter poison; a counter agent; counter fugue. "Innumerable facts attesting the counter principle." --I. Taylor.

Counter approach (Fort.), a trench or work pushed forward from defensive works to meet the approaches of besiegers. See Approach.

Counter bond (Law), in old practice, a bond to secure one who has given bond for another.

Counter brace. See Counter brace, in Vocabulary.

Counter deed (Law), a secret writing which destroys, invalidates, or alters, a public deed.

Counter distinction, contradistinction. [Obs.]

Counter drain, a drain at the foot of the embankment of a canal or watercourse, for carrying off the water that may soak through.

Counter extension (Surg.), the fixation of the upper part of a limb, while extension is practiced on the lower part, as in cases of luxation or fracture.

Counter fissure (Surg.) Same as Contrafissure.

Counter indication. (Med.) Same as Contraindication.

Counter irritant (Med.), an irritant to produce a blister, a pustular eruption, or other irritation in some part of the body, in order to relieve an existing irritation in some other part. "Counter irritants are of as great use in moral as in physical diseases." --Macaulay.

Counter irritation (Med.), the act or the result of applying a counter irritant.

Counter opening, an aperture or vent on the opposite side, or in a different place.

Counter parole (Mil.), a word in addition to the password, given in time of alarm as a signal.

Counter plea (Law), a replication to a plea. --Cowell.

Counter pressure, force or pressure that acts in a contrary direction to some other opposing pressure.

Counter project, a project, scheme, or proposal brought forward in opposition to another, as in the negotiation of a treaty. --Swift.

Counter proof, in engraving, a print taken off from another just printed, which, by being passed through the press, gives a copy in reverse, and of course in the same position as that of plate from which the first was printed, the object being to enable the engraver to inspect the state of the plate.

Counter revolution, a revolution opposed to a former one, and restoring a former state of things.

Counter revolutionist, one engaged in, or befriending, a counter revolution.

Counter round (Mil.), a body of officers whose duty it is to visit and inspect the rounds and sentinels.

Counter sea (Naut.), a sea running in an opposite direction from the wind.

Counter sense, opposite meaning.

Counter signal, a signal to answer or correspond to another.

Counter signature, the name of a secretary or other officer countersigned to a writing. --Tooke.

Counter slope, an overhanging slope; as, a wall with a counter slope. --Mahan.

Counter statement, a statement made in opposition to, or denial of, another statement.

Counter surety, a counter bond, or a surety to secure one who has given security.

Counter tally, a tally corresponding to another.

Counter tide, contrary tide.

Counter

Coun"ter\, n. [See Counter, adv., Contra.]

1. (Naut.) The after part of a vessel's body, from the water line to the stern, -- below and somewhat forward of the stern proper.

2. (Mus.) Same as Contra. Formerly used to designate any under part which served for contrast to a principal part, but now used as equivalent to counter tenor.

3. (Far.) The breast, or that part of a horse between the shoulders and under the neck.

4. The back leather or heel part of a boot.

Counter

Coun"ter\ (koun"t?r), n. An encounter. [Obs.]

With kindly counter under mimic shade. --Spenser.

Counter

Coun"ter\, v. i. (Boxing) To return a blow while receiving one, as in boxing.

His left hand countered provokingly. --C. Kingsley.

Counter

Coun"ter\, n.

Over the counter (Stock Exchanges), in an office; -- said of business so done, as distinguished from that done at an exchange. [Cant] Counterglow \Coun"ter*glow`\, n. (Astron.) An exceedingly faint roundish or somewhat oblong nebulous light near the ecliptic and opposite the sun, best seen during September and October, when in the constellations Sagittarius and Pisces. Its cause is not yet understood. Called also Gegenschein.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : counter
Spanish: ficha,
German: die Spielmarke,
Japanese: 数取り棒
More Translations »

counter  (n.)
1345, "table where a money lender does business," from O.Fr. contouer "counting room, table of a bank," from M.L. computatorium "place of accounts," from L. computare (see compute). Generalized 19c. from banks to shops, then extended to display cases for goods. Phrase under the counter is from 1926.

counter  (v.)
"go against," 1330, from O.Fr. countre "facing opposite."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Main Entry: 1count·er
Pronunciation: 'kaunt-&r
Function: noun
: a level surface over which transactions are conducted or food is servedor on which goods are displayed or work is conducted counter> —over the counter : without a prescription over the counter>

Main Entry: 2counter
Function: noun
: one that counts; especially : a device for indicating a number or amount —see GEIGER COUNTER
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Cite This Source

counter count·er (koun'tər)
n.
One that counts, especially an electronic or mechanical device that automatically counts occurrences or repetitions of phenomena or events.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source

counter

see run counter to; under the counter.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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