• Over-the-counter

    Alternative forms

    Origin

    over + the + counter

    Full definition of over-the-counter

    Adjective

    over-the-counter

    1. (pharmacy) Legal for sale or distribution without the requirement of a prescription (of medicine and other treatments); abbreviated as OTC.
    2. (finance) Direct interaction between two parties without an intermediary. Thus, any market where items such as stocks or currency are bought and sold at a distance, rather than on the exchange.
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