counter
- 01 A2 Elementary
n.a long, flat surface in a kitchen for preparing food, or in a shop where you pay.
n.a horizontal surface in a place of business for transactions, or a worktop in a kitchen for food preparation.
Simple“She left her keys on the kitchen counter while she went to get the groceries.”
In context“The customer waited patiently at the service counter while the clerk searched the database for the missing shipment.”
- 02 B1 Intermediate
n.a small disc or object used to keep score or move around a board in a game.
n.a small object, often a plastic or wooden disc, used as a marker or playing piece in board games.
Simple“Each player chooses a different coloured counter before the game starts.”
In context“The board game requires players to move their counters according to the number rolled on the dice.”
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a tool or a piece of software that counts how many times something happens.
n.a mechanical or electronic device, or a software variable, used to record the number of occurrences of an event.
Simple“The website has a counter that shows how many people have visited today.”
In context“The programmer initialized a counter to track the number of iterations within the loop.”
- 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to say or do something to oppose another person's idea or action.
v.to act in opposition to; to offer a response that neutralises or contradicts an argument or action.
Simple“The company tried to counter the bad news by sharing their recent successes.”
In context“The defence attorney attempted to counter the witness's testimony by presenting physical evidence from the night of the incident.”
Synonyms - 05 C1 Advanced
adv.doing something in the opposite way to what is expected or usual.
adv.in a direction or manner contrary to something else; often used with 'to'.
Simple“His decision to quit ran counter to everything his parents had advised.”
In context“The new economic policy runs counter to the principles established by the previous administration.”
- 06 C1 Advanced
adj.describing something that moves or acts in the opposite direction.
adj.acting in opposition; moving or situated in a contrary direction.
Simple“The two groups had counter arguments about how to spend the money.”
In context“The general launched a counter attack to regain the territory lost during the morning skirmish.”
Antonyms
“Peter Navarro co-authored the book Death by China more than a decade ago, and Robert Lighthizer’s book No Trade Is Free spends a great deal of time on how America should counter China.”
“She said the woman behind the counter had not recognised it, and that after that she "wasn't sure if the bag was real or not".”
Inherited from Middle English countour, from Old French conteor (French comptoir), from Medieval Latin computātōrium, from Latin computō, equivalent to count + -er. Doublet of cantore, computer, and kontor.
From Old French contre, Anglo-Norman cuntre, both from Latin contra.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.