coun·ter 1 (koun t r)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. 5. Nautical The portion of a ship's stern extending from the water line to the extreme outward swell. 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 contr  ; see counter-.] |
| count·er 2 (kountr) n. Idioms: 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. over the counter 1. Without being listed or available on an officially recognized stock exchange but traded in 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 comput t rium, countinghouse, from Latin computre, to calculate; see count1.] |
| count·er 3 (kountr) n. One that counts, especially an electronic or mechanical device that automatically counts occurrences or repetitions of phenomena or events. |
counter 1
Noun
1. a long flat surface in a bank or shop, on which business is transacted
2. a small flat disc used in board games
3. a disc or token used as an imitation coin
4. under the counter (of the sale of goods) illegal [Latin computare to compute]
counter 2
Noun
an apparatus for counting things
counter 3
Verb
1. to say or do (something) in retaliation or response
2. to oppose or act against
3. to return the attack of (an opponent)
Adverb
1. in an opposite or opposing direction or manner
2. run counter to to be in direct contrast with
Adjective
opposing or opposite
Noun
1. something that is contrary or opposite to something else
2. an opposing action
3. a return attack, such as a blow in boxing [Latin contra against]
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. |  counter - table consisting of a horizontal surface over which business is transactedbar - a counter where you can obtain food or drink; "he bought a hot dog and a coke at the bar" checkout counter, checkout - a counter in a supermarket where you pay for your purchases countertop - the top side of a counter meat counter - counter where meats are displayed for sale notions counter - counter where notions are sold reception desk - a counter (as in a hotel) where guests are received table - a piece of furniture having a smooth flat top that is usually supported by one or more vertical legs; "it was a sturdy table" |
| 2. | counter - game equipment (as a piece of wood, plastic, or ivory) used for keeping a count or reserving a space in various card or board games poker chip, chip - a small disk-shaped counter used to represent money when gambling game equipment - equipment or apparatus used in playing a game | |
| 3. | counter - a calculator that keeps a record of the number of times something happens calculating machine, calculator - a small machine that is used for mathematical calculations pulse counter - an electronic counter that counts the number of electric pulses | |
| 4. |  counter - a piece of furniture that stands at the side of a dining room; has shelves and drawersdining room, dining-room - a room used for dining drawer - a boxlike container in a piece of furniture; made so as to slide in and out article of furniture, furniture, piece of furniture - furnishings that make a room or other area ready for occupancy; "they had too much furniture for the small apartment"; "there was only one piece of furniture in the room" shelf - a support that consists of a horizontal surface for holding objects | |
| 5. | counter - a person who counts things | |
| 6. | counter - a quick reply to a question or remark (especially a witty or critical one); "it brought a sharp rejoinder from the teacher" | |
| 7. | counter - (computer science) a register whose contents go through a regular series of states (usually states indicating consecutive integers) register - (computer science) memory device that is the part of computer memory that has a specific address and that is used to hold information of a specific kind computer science, computing - the branch of engineering science that studies (with the aid of computers) computable processes and structures | |
| 8. | counter - a piece of leather forming the back of a shoe or boot; "a counter may be used to stiffen the material around the heel and to give support to the foot" boot - footwear that covers the whole foot and lower leg piece of leather - a separate part consisting of leather shoe - footwear shaped to fit the foot (below the ankle) with a flexible upper of leather or plastic and a sole and heel of heavier material | |
| 9. |  counter - a return punch (especially by a boxer) | |
| Verb | 1. | counter - speak in response; "He countered with some very persuasive arguments" |
| 2. | counter - act in advance of; deal with ahead of time | |
| Adj. | 1. |  counter - indicating opposition or resistancenegative - characterized by or displaying negation or denial or opposition or resistance; having no positive features; "a negative outlook on life"; "a colorless negative personality"; "a negative evaluation"; "a negative reaction to an advertising campaign" |
| Adv. | 1. | counter - in the opposite direction; "run counter" |
counter
verb 1. oppose, meet, block, resist, offset, parry, deflect, repel, rebuff, fend off, counteract, ward off, stave off, repulse, obviate, hold at bay
verb 2. retaliate, return, answer, reply, respond, come back, retort, hit back, rejoin, strike back << OPPOSITE yield
adverb 3. opposite to, against, versus, conversely, in defiance of, at variance with, contrarily, contrariwise << OPPOSITE in accordance with
adjective 4. opposing, conflicting, opposed, contrasting, opposite, contrary, adverse, contradictory, obverse, against << OPPOSITE similar
Translations
counter [ˈkauntəʳ] n (in shop) → mostrador m (= position) (in post office, bank) → ventanilla;
(in games) → ficha;
(TECH) → contador m
adv counter to → contrario a;
to buy under the counter (fig) → comprar de estraperlo or bajo mano;
counter [ˈkauntəʳ] n → comptoir m;
(in post office, bank) → guichet m;
(in game) → jeton m
adv counter to → à l'encontre de; contrairement à;
counter [ˈkauntəʳ] n (in shop) → Ladentisch m;
(in café) → Theke f;
(in bank, post office) → Schalter m;
(in game) → Spielmarke f;
(Tech) → Zähler m
(blow) → kontern
to buy sth under the counter (fig) → etw unter dem Ladentisch bekommen;
counter [ˈkauntəʳ] n → banco (= position) (in post office, bank) → sportello;
(in game) → gettone m;
(TECH) → contatore m
adv counter to → contro; in opposizione a;
to buy under the counter (fig) → comperare sottobanco;
to counter sth with sth/by doing sth → rispondere a qc con qc/facendo qc
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