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View synonyms for counter

counter

1

[ koun-ter ]

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, especially 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.


counter

2

[ koun-ter ]

noun

  1. a device for counting revolutions of a wheel, items produced, etc.
  2. a person who counts.
  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. Geiger counter.

counter

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 preceded by run or go ):

    to run counter to the rules.

adjective

  1. opposite; contrary; opposed.

noun

  1. something that is opposite or contrary to something else.
  2. a blow delivered in receiving or parrying another blow, as in boxing.
  3. a statement or action made to refute, oppose, or nullify another statement or action.
  4. Fencing. a circular parry.
  5. a piece of leather or other material inserted between the lining and outside leather of a shoe or boot quarter to keep it stiff.
  6. Nautical. the part of a stern that overhangs and projects aft of the sternpost of a vessel.
  7. Also called void. Typesetting. any part of the face of a type that is less than type-high and is therefore not inked.
  8. Engineering, Building Trades. a truss member subject to stress only under certain partial loadings of the truss.
  9. the part of a horse's breast that lies between the shoulders and under the neck.

verb (used with object)

  1. to go counter to; oppose; controvert.
  2. to meet or answer (a move, blow, etc.) by another in return.

verb (used without object)

  1. to make a counter or opposing move.
  2. to give a blow while receiving or parrying one, as in boxing.

counter

4

[ koun-ter ]

verb (used with object)

  1. to encounter in opposition or combat.

counter-

5
  1. 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 ).

counter-

1

prefix

  1. against; opposite; contrary

    counterattack

  2. complementary; corresponding

    counterfoil

  3. duplicate or substitute

    counterfeit



counter

2

/ ˈkaʊntə /

noun

  1. a person who counts
  2. an apparatus that records the number of occurrences of events
  3. any instrument for detecting or counting ionizing particles or photons See Geiger counter scintillation counter crystal counter
  4. See scaler
    electronics another name for scaler

counter

3

/ ˈkaʊntə /

adverb

  1. in a contrary direction or manner
  2. in a wrong or reverse direction
  3. run counter to
    run counter to to have a contrary effect or action to

adjective

  1. opposing; opposite; contrary

noun

  1. something that is contrary or opposite to some other thing
  2. an act, effect, or force that opposes another
  3. a return attack, such as a blow in boxing
  4. fencing a parry in which the foils move in a circular fashion
  5. the portion of the stern of a boat or ship that overhangs the water aft of the rudder
  6. Also calledvoid printing the inside area of a typeface that is not type high, such as the centre of an "o", and therefore does not print
  7. the part of a horse's breast under the neck and between the shoulders
  8. a piece of leather forming the back of a shoe

verb

  1. to say or do (something) in retaliation or response
  2. tr to move, act, or perform in a manner or direction opposite to (a person or thing)
  3. to return the attack of (an opponent)

counter

4

/ ˈkaʊntə /

noun

  1. a horizontal surface, as in a shop or bank, over which business is transacted
  2. (in some cafeterias) a long table on which food is served to customers
    1. a small flat disc of wood, metal, or plastic, used in various board games
    2. a similar disc or token used as an imitation coin
  3. a person or thing that may be used or manipulated
  4. a skating figure consisting of three circles
  5. under the counter
    under the counter under-the-counter when prenominal (of the sale of goods, esp goods in short supply) clandestine, surreptitious, or illegal; not in an open manner
  6. over the counter
    over the counter over-the-counter when prenominal (of security transactions) through a broker rather than on a stock exchange

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Word History and Origins

Origin of counter1

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English countour, from Anglo-French ( Old French comptoir ), from Medieval Latin computātorium “place for computing,” equivalent to Latin computā(re) “to think, calculate” + -tōrium noun suffix; compute, -tory 2; count 1

Origin of counter2

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English countour, from Anglo-French ( Old French conteor ), ultimately derived from Latin computātor, equivalent to computā(re) “to think, calculate” + -tor noun suffix; compute, -tor

Origin of counter3

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English countre, from Anglo-French co(u)ntre, cuntre, Old French contre, from Latin contrā “against”; counter-

Origin of counter4

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English countren, aphetic variant of acountren, from Middle French acontrer; a- 5, encounter

Origin of counter5

Middle English countre-; counter 3

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Word History and Origins

Origin of counter1

via Norman French from Latin contrā against, opposite; see contra-

Origin of counter2

C14: from Old French conteor, from Latin computātor; see count 1

Origin of counter3

C15: from Old French contre, from Latin contrā against

Origin of counter4

C14: from Old French comptouer, ultimately from Latin computāre to compute

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Idioms and Phrases

Idioms
  1. over the counter,
    1. (of the sale of stock) through a broker's office rather than through the stock exchange.
    2. (of the sale of merchandise) through a retail store rather than through a wholesaler.
  2. under the counter, in a clandestine manner, especially illegally:

    books sold under the counter.

More idioms and phrases containing counter

see run counter to ; under the counter .

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Example Sentences

Officials countered the claim, saying they tended to Taylor as soon as they could, though they didn’t initially know she was injured since everything happened in the dark.

From Vox

There are, of course, counter-arguments to what Robinson is saying here.

Ernie Herrman, TJX chief Retailers are also planning online promotions early in the season in an attempt to counter Amazon’s Prime Day, which is usually held in July but has been pushed back until the fourth quarter this year.

From Ozy

What we have, I learn, is a late-season, last-minute, over-the-counter, nonresident, archery-only antlered-deer tag on public land.

Reinoehl had described himself in a social media posts as "100% ANTIFA" and suggested the tactics of counter-protesters amounted to "warfare," per the AP.

From Axios

When Chérif got out of prison, he worked at the fish counter of a supermarket.

This led to the formation of a Christian militant group to counter the rebels, and all-out sectarian violence exploded.

It seemed gratuitous and counter-intuitive in a story that had already inflicted more than enough suffering.

Then the sun went down and the anger came back as a “Thank You NYPD” rally traded insults with counter-protestors.

If you need to store the bottle in the fridge, let it warm up for a few minutes on the counter before serving.

On to Gaba Tepe just in time to see the opening, the climax and the end of the dreaded Turkish counter attack.

Our beloved Queen had drawn the teeth of the Turkish counter-attack on our extreme left.

Thereupon, I gave the word for a general counter-attack and our line began to advance.

The handkerchief glimmered on the counter, more white than anything else in that grey dusk.

She preceded him along a passage and then, taking a door on the left, found herself surprisingly in the shop, behind a counter.

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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