coun·ter [countercounterscounteredcountering] noun, verb, adverb BrE [ˈkaʊntə(r)] NAmE [ˈkaʊntər] noun 1. a long flat surface over which goods are sold or business is done in a shop/store, bank, etc • I asked the woman behind the counter if they had any postcards. 2. (alsocounter·top) (both NAmE) (BrE work·top, ˈwork surface)a flat surface in a kitchen for preparing food on 3. a small disc used for playing or scoring in some board games see also ↑bargaining counter 4. (especially in compounds)an electronic device for counting sth • The needle on the rev counter soared. •You need to reset the counter. see also ↑Geiger counter compare ↑bean counter 5. usually singular ~ (to sb/sth) (formal)a response to sb/sth that opposes their ideas, position, etc •The employers' association was seen as a counter to union power.
Word Origin: n. senses 1 to 4 Middle English Old French conteor medieval Latin computatorium Latin computare ‘calculate’ com- ‘together’ putare ‘to settle (an account)’ n. sense 5 and v. adj. late Middle English Old French contre Latin contra ‘against’ ↑counter-
Example Bank: •He pushed the money across the counter to her. •He works at the meat counter. •Mary served behind the counter at Bacon's for a few hours a week. •She handed me my coffee over the counter. •She put her bags down on the kitchen counter. •The assistant behind the counter gave a curt nod. •The barman wiped down the counter in silence. •The government's programme should be an effective counter to unemployment. •The kitchen had black marble counter tops. •There was a line of people waiting at the checkout counter. •They sat on high stools at the bar counter. •This kind of medication cannot be bought over the counter. •all the goods on the counter •an airline check-in counter •an effective counter to the blandness of modern culture •post office counter staff Idioms: ↑over the counter▪ ↑under the counter
verb 1. transitive, intransitive ~ (sb/sth) (with sth) to reply to sb by trying to prove that what they said is not true •~ sb/sth Such arguments are not easily countered. •~ that… I tried to argue but he countered that the plans were not yet finished. •~ (sb) + speech ‘But I was standing right here!’ he countered. •~ with sth Butler has countered with a lawsuit against the firm. 2. transitive ~ sth to do sth to reduce or prevent the bad effects of sth Syn: ↑counteract •Businesses would like to see new laws to counter late payments of debts. Verb forms:
Word Origin: n. senses 1 to 4 Middle English Old French conteor medieval Latin computatorium Latin computare ‘calculate’ com- ‘together’ putare ‘to settle (an account)’ n. sense 5 and v. adj. late Middle English Old French contre Latin contra ‘against’ ↑counter-
Example Bank: •Businesses would like to see more laws to counter late payments of debts. •It's often necessary to counter negative images with positive images. •The effects of job losses in manufacturing were countered by the creation of more jobs in the service industries. •We need more imaginative policies to counter global warming.
adverb ~ to sth in the opposite direction to sth; in opposition to sth • The government's plans run counter to agreed European policy on this issue.
Word Origin: n. senses 1 to 4 Middle English Old French conteor medieval Latin computatorium Latin computare ‘calculate’ com- ‘together’ putare ‘to settle (an account)’ n. sense 5 and v. adj. late Middle English Old French contre Latin contra ‘against’ ↑counter-
