count•er1
(ˈkaʊn tər)
n. 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 food is prepared and served.
3. a surface for the preparation of food in a kitchen, esp. on a low cabinet.
4. anything used to keep account, esp. a disk or other small object used in games, as in checkers.
Idioms: 1. 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.
c. (of the sale of medicinal drugs) without requiring a prescription.
2. under the counter, in a clandestine manner, esp. illegally.
[1300–50; Middle English
countour < Anglo-French (Old French
comptoir) < Medieval Latin
computātorium place for computing = Latin
computā(re) to
compute]
count•er2
(ˈkaʊn tər)
n. 1. a person who counts.
2. a device for counting revolutions of a wheel, items produced, etc.
3. any of various instruments for detecting ionizing radiation and for registering counts, as a Geiger counter.
[1325–75; Middle English
countour < Anglo-French (Old French
conteor) « Latin
computātor=
computā(re) to
compute +
-tor -tor]
coun•ter3
(ˈkaʊn tər)
adv. 1. in the wrong way; in the reverse direction.
2. contrary; in opposition.
adj. 3. opposite; opposed; contrary.
n. 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 or oppose another statement or action.
7. a circular parry in fencing.
8. a piece of leather or the like inside the lining of the upper of a shoe or boot, around the heel, to keep it stiff.
9. the part of a vessel's stern that overhangs and projects aft of the sternpost.
v.t. 10. to go counter to; oppose; controvert.
11. to meet or answer (a move, blow, etc.) by another in return.
v.i. 12. to make a counter or opposing move.
13. to give a blow while receiving or parrying one, as in boxing.
[1400–50; late Middle English countre < Anglo-French co(u)ntre, cuntre, Old French contre < Latin contrā against]
counter-
a prefix used in the formation of words that have the general senses “against or counter to” (counterintuitive), “in response or reply to” (counterattack; counteroffer), “thwarting, or designed to thwart, frustrate, or nullify” (counterespionage; counterproductive), “refuting” (counterexample), “opposite, in the reverse direction” (counterclockwise; countercurrent), “offsetting, complementary” (counterbalance; counterpart), “occurring simultaneously” (countermelody).
[Middle English
countre-; see
counter3]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.