Counter

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈkaÊŠntÉ™/
• Rhymes: -aÊŠntÉ™(r)

Anglo-Norman countour, from Old French conteor (French comptoir), from Medieval Latin computatorium, from Latin computare.

Full definition of counter

Noun

1. An object (now especially a small disc) used in counting or keeping count, or as a marker in games, etc.
• He rolled a six on the dice, so moved his counter forward six spaces.
2. (curling) Any stone lying closer to the center than any of the opponent's stones.
3. A table or board on which money is counted and over which business is transacted; a shop tabletop on which goods are examined, weighed or measured.
• He put his money on the counter, and the shopkeeper put it in the till.
4. One who counts, or reckons up; a reckoner.
• He's only 16 months, but is already a good counter - he can count to 100.
5. A telltale; a contrivance attached to an engine, printing press, or other machine, for the purpose of counting the revolutions or the pulsations.
6. (historical) The prison attached to a city court; a Counter.
7. (grammar) A class of word used along with numbers to count objects and events, typically mass nouns. Although rare and optional in English (e.g. "20 head of cattle"), they are numerous and required in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean.
8. In a kitchen, a surface, often built into the wall and above a cabinet, whereon various food preparations take place.
9. (wrestling) A proactive defensive hold or move in reaction to a hold or move by one's opponent.
• Always know a counter to any hold you try against your opponent.
10. (computing, programming) A variable, memory location, etc. whose contents are incremented to keep a count.
11. (computing, Internet) A hit counter.

Derived terms

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

Adverb

1. Contrary, in opposition; in an opposite direction.
• Running counter to all the rules of virtue. -Locks.

Noun

1. (nautical) The overhanging stern of a vessel above the waterline.
2. (by extension) The piece of a shoe or a boot around the heel of the foot (above the heel of the shoe/boot).
• 1959, J. D. Salinger, Seymour: An Introduction:Seymour, sitting in an old corduroy armchair across the room, a cigarette going, wearing a blue shirt, gray slacks, moccasins with the counters broken down, a shaving cut on the side of his face ....

From counter-.

Verb

1. To contradict, oppose.
2. (boxing) To return a blow while receiving one, as in boxing.
• His left hand countered provokingly. - C. Kingsley
3. To take action in response to; to respond.
• 2012-12-21, Simon Jenkins, We mustn't overreact to North Korea boys' toys, David Cameron insists that his latest communications data bill is “vital to counter terrorism”. Yet terror is mayhem. It is no threat to freedom. That threat is from counter-terror, from ministers capitulating to securocrats.

Adjective

1. Contrary; opposite; contrasted; opposed; adverse; antagonistic.His carrying a knife was counter to my plan.
• I. TaylorInnumerable facts attesting the counter principle.

Derived terms

Adverb

1. In opposition; in an opposite direction; contrariwise.
• John Lockerunning counter to all the rules of virtue
2. In the wrong way; contrary to the right course.a hound that runs counter
• ShakespeareThis is counter, you false Danish dogs!
3. At or against the front or face.
• Sandyswhich darts they never throw counter, but at the back of the flier

Noun

1. (obsolete) An encounter.
• Spenserwith kindly counter under mimic shade
2. (nautical) The after part of a vessel's body, from the water line to the stern, below and somewhat forward of the stern proper.
3. (music) Alternative form of contra Formerly used to designate any under part which served for contrast to a principal part, but now used as equivalent to countertenor.
4. The breast, or that part of a horse between the shoulders and under the neck.
5. The back leather or heel part of a boot.

Anagrams

• recount, trounce