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WordReference can't find this exact phrase, but click on each word to see its meaning:
We could not find the full phrase you were looking for. The entry for "counter" is displayed below. Also see: speed
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026count•er1 /ˈkaʊntɚ/USA pronunciation
n. [countable]
- a table or surface on which goods can be shown, etc.:Bring your goods to the checkout counter.
- (in restaurants, etc.) a long, narrow table with stools for the customers, behind which meals are prepared and served:The waitress tossed our food down on the counter.
- a long, flat surface for the preparation of food in a kitchen:Just put the dishes on the counter for now.
- Gamesanything used to keep account, esp. a disk or other small object used in a game, as checkers.
Idioms
- Idioms, Business over the counter, [uncountable]
- (of the sale of stock) through a broker's office rather than through the stock exchange.
- (of the sale of medicinal drugs) without requiring a prescription:You can buy that drug over the counter in any shop.
- Idioms, Business under the counter, [uncountable] illegally:If we buy the tickets under the counter using dollars, we'll get a much better price and exchange rate.
count•er2 /ˈkaʊntɚ/USA pronunciation
n. [countable]
- a person or thing that counts.
- Physicsan instrument for detecting and registering radiation.
coun•ter3 /ˈkaʊntɚ/USA pronunciation
adv.
- in the reverse direction;
contrary:[~ + to + object]This ran counter to what we expected.
adj. [be + ~ + to + object]
- opposite;
opposed;
contrary:The attack was counter to our expectations.
n. [countable]
- something opposite or contrary to something else, such as a statement or action made to oppose another:He made a quick counter to the guard's remark about ignorant tourists.
v. [~ + object]
- to oppose, esp. so as to weaken:I countered her arguments by pointing out the advantages of my plan.
counter-, [prefix.]
- counter- has the meaning "against, counter to, opposed to.'' This meaning is found in such words as: counterattack, counterclockwise.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026count•er1
(koun′tər),USA pronunciation n.
- a table or display case on which goods can be shown, business transacted, etc.
- (in restaurants, luncheonettes, etc.) a long, narrow table with stools or chairs along one side for the patrons, behind which refreshments or meals are prepared and served.
- a surface for the preparation of food in a kitchen, esp. on a low cabinet.
- Gamesanything used in keeping account, as a disk of metal or wood, used in some games, as checkers, for marking a player's position or for keeping score.
- an imitation coin or token.
- a coin;
money.
- Business over the counter:
- (of the sale of stock) through a broker's office rather than through the stock exchange.
- (of the sale of merchandise) through a retail store rather than through a wholesaler.
- Idioms, Business under the counter, in a clandestine manner, esp. illegally:books sold under the counter.
- Medieval Latin computātorium place for computing, equivalent. to Latin computā(re) to compute + -tōrium -tory2; compare count1
- Anglo-French (Old French comptoir)
- Middle English countour 1300–50
- a person who counts.
- a device for counting revolutions of a wheel, items produced, etc.
- Games[Cards.]See card counter.
- Computinga storage register or program variable used to tally how often something of interest occurs.
- Electronicsscaler (def. 2).
- [Physics.]any of various instruments for detecting ionizing radiation and for registering counts. Cf. Geiger counter.
- Anglo-French (Old French conteor)
- Middle English countour 1325–75
- in the wrong way;
contrary to the right course;
in the reverse or opposite direction.
- contrary;
in opposition (usually prec. by run or go):to run counter to the rules.
adj. - opposite;
opposed;
contrary.
n. - something that is opposite or contrary to something else.
- a blow delivered in receiving or parrying another blow, as in boxing.
- a statement or action made to refute, oppose, or nullify another statement or action.
- Sport[Fencing.]a circular parry.
- Clothinga piece of leather or other material inserted between the lining and outside leather of a shoe or boot quarter to keep it stiff.
- Nautical, Naval Termsthe part of a stern that overhangs and projects aft of the sternpost of a vessel.
- PrintingAlso called void. [Typesetting.]any part of the face of a type that is less than type-high and is therefore not inked.
- Building, Civil Engineering[Engin., Building Trades.]a truss member subject to stress only under certain partial loadings of the truss.
- Zoologythe part of a horse's breast that lies between the shoulders and under the neck.
v.t. - to go counter to;
oppose;
controvert.
- to meet or answer (a move, blow, etc.) by another in return.
v.i. - to make a counter or opposing move.
- to give a blow while receiving or parrying one, as in boxing.
- Latin contrā against. See counter-
- Anglo-French co(u)ntre, cuntre, Old French contre
- late Middle English countre 1400–50
- to encounter in opposition or combat.
- Middle French acontrer. See a-5, encounter
- Middle English countren, aphetic variant of acountren 1250–1300
- a combining form of counter3, used with the meanings "against,'' "contrary,'' "opposite,'' "in opposition or response to'' (countermand);
"complementary,'' "in reciprocation,'' "corresponding,'' "parallel'' (counterfoil;
counterbalance);
"substitute,'' "duplicate'' (counterfeit).
- see counter3 Middle English countre-
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
counter /ˈkaʊntə/ n - a horizontal surface, as in a shop or bank, over which business is transacted
- (in some cafeterias) a long table on which food is served to customers
- a small flat disc of wood, metal, or plastic, used in various board games
- a similar disc or token used as an imitation coin
- a person or thing that may be used or manipulated
- a skating figure consisting of three circles
- 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
- over the counter ⇒ (over-the-counter when prenominal) (of security transactions) through a broker rather than on a stock exchange
Etymology: 14th Century: from Old French comptouer, ultimately from Latin computāre to compute counter /ˈkaʊntə/ adv - in a contrary direction or manner
- in a wrong or reverse direction
- run counter to ⇒ to have a contrary effect or action to
adj - opposing; opposite; contrary
n - something that is contrary or opposite to some other thing
- an act, effect, or force that opposes another
- a return attack, such as a blow in boxing
- a parry in which the foils move in a circular fashion
- the portion of the stern of a boat or ship that overhangs the water aft of the rudder
- a piece of leather forming the back of a shoe
vb - to say or do (something) in retaliation or response
- (transitive) to move, act, or perform in a manner or direction opposite to (a person or thing)
- to return the attack of (an opponent)
Etymology: 15th Century: from Old French contre, from Latin contrā against counter /ˈkaʊntə/ n - a person who counts
- an apparatus that records the number of occurrences of events
- any instrument for detecting or counting ionizing particles or photons
Etymology: 14th Century: from Old French conteor, from Latin computātor; see count1 Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
counter- prefix - against; opposite; contrary: counterattack
- complementary; corresponding: counterfoil
Etymology: via Norman French from Latin contrā against, opposite; see contra-
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