counter

1
[ koun-ter ]
See synonyms for: countercounteredcounteringcounters on Thesaurus.com
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.

  1. a surface for the preparation of food in a kitchen, especially on a low cabinet.

  2. 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.

  3. an imitation coin or token.

  4. a coin; money.

Idioms about counter

  1. 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.

  2. under the counter, in a clandestine manner, especially illegally: books sold under the counter.

Origin of counter

1
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, -tory2; cf. count1

Other definitions for counter (2 of 5)

counter2
[ koun-ter ]
noun

  1. a device for counting revolutions of a wheel, items produced, etc.

  2. a person who counts.

  1. Cards. card counter.

  2. Computers. a storage register or program variable used to tally how often something of interest occurs.

  3. Electronics. scaler (def. 2).

  4. Physics. any of various instruments for detecting ionizing radiation and for registering counts.: See also Geiger counter.

Origin of counter

2
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

Other definitions for counter (3 of 5)

counter3
[ 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.

  1. a statement or action made to refute, oppose, or nullify another statement or action.

  2. Fencing. a circular parry.

  3. a piece of leather or other material inserted between the lining and outside leather of a shoe or boot quarter to keep it stiff.

  4. Nautical. the part of a stern that overhangs and projects aft of the sternpost of a vessel.

  5. Also called void. Typesetting. any part of the face of a type that is less than type-high and is therefore not inked.

  6. Engineering, Building Trades. a truss member subject to stress only under certain partial loadings of the truss.

  7. 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.

Origin of counter

3
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-

Other definitions for counter (4 of 5)

counter4
[ koun-ter ]
verb (used with object)

  1. to encounter in opposition or combat.

Origin of counter

4
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English countren, aphetic variant of acountren, from Middle French acontrer; see a-5, encounter

Other definitions for counter- (5 of 5)

counter-

  1. a combining form of counter3, used with the meanings “against,” “contrary,” “opposite,” “in opposition or response to” (countermand); “complementary,” “in reciprocation,” “corresponding,” “parallel” (counterfoil; counterbalance); “substitute,” “duplicate” (counterfeit).

Origin of counter-

5
Middle English countre-;see counter3

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use counter in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for counter (1 of 4)

counter1

/ (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

    • a small flat disc of wood, metal, or plastic, used in various board games

    • a similar disc or token used as an imitation coin

  2. a person or thing that may be used or manipulated

  3. a skating figure consisting of three circles

  4. 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

  5. over the counter (over-the-counter when prenominal) (of security transactions) through a broker rather than on a stock exchange

Origin of counter

1
C14: from Old French comptouer, ultimately from Latin computāre to compute

British Dictionary definitions for counter (2 of 4)

counter2

/ (ˈkaʊntə) /

adverb

  1. in a contrary direction or manner

  2. in a wrong or reverse direction

  1. 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

  1. a return attack, such as a blow in boxing

  2. fencing a parry in which the foils move in a circular fashion

  3. the portion of the stern of a boat or ship that overhangs the water aft of the rudder

  4. 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

  5. the part of a horse's breast under the neck and between the shoulders

  6. 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)

  1. to return the attack of (an opponent)

Origin of counter

2
C15: from Old French contre, from Latin contrā against

British Dictionary definitions for counter (3 of 4)

counter3

/ (ˈkaʊntə) /

noun

  1. a person who counts

  2. an apparatus that records the number of occurrences of events

  1. any instrument for detecting or counting ionizing particles or photons: See Geiger counter, scintillation counter, crystal counter

  2. electronics another name for scaler (def. 2)

Origin of counter

3
C14: from Old French conteor, from Latin computātor; see count 1

British Dictionary definitions for counter- (4 of 4)

counter-
prefix

  1. against; opposite; contrary: counterattack

  2. complementary; corresponding: counterfoil

  1. duplicate or substitute: counterfeit

Origin of counter-

4
via Norman French from Latin contrā against, opposite; see contra-

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with counter

counter

see run counter to; under the counter.

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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