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 or boot.
5. Nautical An overhanging portion of a ship's or boat's stern extending from the water line up to the transom.
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.
3. a. An imitation coin; a token.
b. A piece of money.
Idioms: over the counter1. Without being listed or available on an officially recognized stock exchange but in trade by direct negotiation between buyers and sellers: bought stocks over the counter.
2. Without a doctor's prescription being legally required: cold medicine that is available over the counter.
under the counter In an illegal or surreptitious manner; illicitly: arrested for selling prescription drugs under the counter.
[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.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
counter
(ˈkaʊntə) n1. a horizontal surface, as in a shop or bank, over which business is transacted
2. (Furniture) (in some cafeterias) a long table on which food is served to customers
3. (Games, other than specified)
a. a small flat disc of wood, metal, or plastic, used in various board games
b. a similar disc or token used as an imitation coin
4. a person or thing that may be used or manipulated
5. (Ice Skating) a skating figure consisting of three circles
6. 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
7. (Stock Exchange) over the counter (over-the-counter when prenominal) (of security transactions) through a broker rather than on a stock exchange
[C14: from Old French comptouer, ultimately from Latin computāre to compute]
counter
(ˈkaʊntə) adv1. in a contrary direction or manner
2. in a wrong or reverse direction
3. run counter to to have a contrary effect or action to
adjopposing; opposite; contrary
n4. something that is contrary or opposite to some other thing
5. an act, effect, or force that opposes another
6. (Boxing) a return attack, such as a blow in boxing
7. (Fencing) fencing a parry in which the foils move in a circular fashion
8. (Nautical Terms) the portion of the stern of a boat or ship that overhangs the water aft of the rudder
9. (Printing, Lithography & Bookbinding) printing Also called: void the inside area of a typeface that is not type high, such as the centre of an "o", and therefore does not print
10. (Horse Training, Riding & Manège) the part of a horse's breast under the neck and between the shoulders
11. (Clothing & Fashion) a piece of leather forming the back of a shoe
vb12. to say or do (something) in retaliation or response
13. (tr) to move, act, or perform in a manner or direction opposite to (a person or thing)
14. to return the attack of (an opponent)
[C15: from Old French contre, from Latin contrā against]
counter
(ˈkaʊntə) n1. a person who counts
2. (Mechanical Engineering) an apparatus that records the number of occurrences of events
4. (Electronics)
electronics another name for
scaler2 [C14: from Old French conteor, from Latin computātor; see count1]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
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.