ENGLISH
REFERENCE

counter

n. · v. · adv. · adj.
US //ˈkaʊntɝ// UK //kˈaʊntɐ// counter
  1. 1 flat surface (n.)
    A2 Elementary

    a long, flat surface in a kitchen for preparing food, or in a shop where you pay.

    a horizontal surface in a place of business for transactions, or a worktop in a kitchen for food preparation.

    Example

    She left her keys on the kitchen counter while she went to get the groceries.

    Example

    The customer waited patiently at the service counter while the clerk searched the database for the missing shipment.
  2. 2 game piece (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    a small disc or object used to keep score or move around a board in a game.

    a small object, often a plastic or wooden disc, used as a marker or playing piece in board games.

    Example

    Each player chooses a different coloured counter before the game starts.

    Example

    The board game requires players to move their counters according to the number rolled on the dice.
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  1. 3 measuring device (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Technical Computing

    a tool or a piece of software that counts how many times something happens.

    a mechanical or electronic device, or a software variable, used to record the number of occurrences of an event.

    Example

    The website has a counter that shows how many people have visited today.

    Example

    The programmer initialized a counter to track the number of iterations within the loop.
  2. 4 to oppose (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to say or do something to oppose another person's idea or action.

    to act in opposition to; to offer a response that neutralises or contradicts an argument or action.

    Example

    The company tried to counter the bad news by sharing their recent successes.

    Example

    The defence attorney attempted to counter the witness's testimony by presenting physical evidence from the night of the incident.
  3. 5 in opposition (adv.)
    C1 Advanced Formal

    doing something in the opposite way to what is expected or usual.

    in a direction or manner contrary to something else; often used with 'to'.

    Example

    His decision to quit ran counter to everything his parents had advised.

    Example

    The new economic policy runs counter to the principles established by the previous administration.
  4. 6 opposing (adj.)
    C1 Advanced Formal

    describing something that moves or acts in the opposite direction.

    acting in opposition; moving or situated in a contrary direction.

    Example

    The two groups had counter arguments about how to spend the money.

    Example

    The general launched a counter attack to regain the territory lost during the morning skirmish.
Etymology 1

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.

Etymology 2

From Old French contre, Anglo-Norman cuntre, both from Latin contra.

Idioms2 entries

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