a table or display case on which goods can be shown, business transacted, etc.
(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.
a surface for the preparation of food in a kitchen, especially on a low cabinet.
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.
an imitation coin or token.
a coin; money.
over the counter,
(of the sale of stock) through a broker's office rather than through the stock exchange.
(of the sale of merchandise) through a retail store rather than through a wholesaler.
under the counter, in a clandestine manner, especially illegally.
books sold under the counter.
a device for counting revolutions of a wheel, items produced, etc.
a person who counts.
Cards. card counter.
Computers. a storage register or program variable used to tally how often something of interest occurs.
Electronics. scaler.
Physics. any of various instruments for detecting ionizing radiation and for registering counts.
in the wrong way; contrary to the right course; in the reverse or opposite direction.
contrary; in opposition (usually preceded by run orgo ).
to run counter to the rules.
something that is opposite or contrary to something else.
a blow delivered in receiving or parrying another blow, as in boxing.
a statement or action made to refute, oppose, or nullify another statement or action.
Fencing. a circular parry.
a piece of leather or other material inserted between the lining and outside leather of a shoe or boot quarter to keep it stiff.
Nautical. the part of a stern that overhangs and projects aft of the sternpost of a vessel.
Also called void. Typesetting. any part of the face of a type that is less than type-high and is therefore not inked.
Engineering, Building Trades. a truss member subject to stress only under certain partial loadings of the truss.
the part of a horse's breast that lies between the shoulders and under the neck.
to go counter to; oppose; controvert.
to meet or answer (a move, blow, etc.) by another in return.
to make a counter or opposing move.
to give a blow while receiving or parrying one, as in boxing.
in a contrary direction or manner
in a wrong or reverse direction
to have a contrary effect or action to
something that is contrary or opposite to some other thing
an act, effect, or force that opposes another
a return attack, such as a blow in boxing
fencing a parry in which the foils move in a circular fashion
the portion of the stern of a boat or ship that overhangs the water aft of the rudder
Also called: void. printing the inside area of a typeface that is not type high, such as the centre of an "o", and therefore does not print
the part of a horse's breast under the neck and between the shoulders
a piece of leather forming the back of a shoe
to say or do (something) in retaliation or response
(tr) to move, act, or perform in a manner or direction opposite to (a person or thing)
to return the attack of (an opponent)
a horizontal surface, as in a shop or bank, over which business is transacted
(in some cafeterias) a long table on which food is served to customers
a small flat disc of wood, metal, or plastic, used in various board games
a similar disc or token used as an imitation coin
a person or thing that may be used or manipulated
a skating figure consisting of three circles
(under-the-counter when prenominal) (of the sale of goods, esp goods in short supply) clandestine, surreptitious, or illegal; not in an open manner
(over-the-counter when prenominal) (of security transactions) through a broker rather than on a stock exchange
a person who counts
an apparatus that records the number of occurrences of events
any instrument for detecting or counting ionizing particles or photons See Geiger counter scintillation counter crystal counter
electronics another name for scaler
against; opposite; contrary
counterattack
complementary; corresponding
counterfoil
duplicate or substitute
counterfeit
What does counter- mean? Counter- is a combining form used like a prefix with a variety of meanings, primarily meaning “against," "contrary," or "opposite." It is often used in everyday and technical terms. Counter- comes from Middle English countre-, meaning “against.” A related prefix is contra-, as in contraindicate, meaning "against," from Latin contrā. Find out more at our entries for contra- and contraindicate.
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; see compute, -tory 2; cf. count 1
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; see compute, -tor
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English countre, from Anglo-French co(u)ntre, cuntre, Old French contre, from Latin contrā “against”; see counter-
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English countren, aphetic variant of acountren, from Middle French acontrer; see a- 5, encounter
Middle English countre-; see counter 3
A counter is a surface used for making transactions in a store or in a home kitchen for preparing food. In a store, you pay for items at the counter. When counter is a verb, it means "to speak up in opposition," like when you counter your opponent's argument in a debate. When something conflicts, you can say it "runs counter to," like a fancy car that runs counter to your philosophy of living simply. You can think of this meaning as "in the opposite direction," like "counter-clockwise," meaning the direction that's opposite of clockwise.
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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Beijing has long been accused of seeking to develop facilities around the Indian Ocean -- a so-called "string of pearls" -- to counter India's rise and secure its own economic interests.
From Barron's • May 18, 2026
He had labelled the Iranian counter to US proposals "totally unacceptable".
From BBC • May 17, 2026
Commission staffers counter that an updated city trails map included the easement and that city staff at the time said the pathway was accepted.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 16, 2026
Zelensky has said that Middle East countries used 800 PAC-3 interceptors to counter Iranian drones and other projectiles, adding that Ukraine had never had that many during its war.
From Barron's • May 15, 2026
We crossed the street and slid onto the stools at the far end of the marble counter.
From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu
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.
