counter
pronunciation
How to pronounce counter in British English:
UK [ˈkaʊntə(r)]
How to pronounce counter in American English:
US [ˈkaʊntər]
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- Noun:
- table consisting of a horizontal surface over which business is transacted
- game equipment used in various card or board games
- a calculator that keeps a record of the number of times something happens
- a piece of furniture that stands at the side of a dining room; has shelves and drawers
- a person who counts things
- a quick reply to a question or remark (especially a witty or critical one)
- (computer science) a register whose contents go through a regular series of states (usually states indicating consecutive integers)
- the piece of leather that fits the heel
- a piece of leather forming the back of a shoe
- a return punch (especially by a boxer)
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- Verb:
- speak in response
- act in advance of; deal with ahead of time
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- Adjective:
- indicating opposition or resistance
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- Adverb:
- in the opposite direction
Word Origin
- counter
- counter: see count
- counter (n.)
- mid-14c., "table where a money lender does business," from Old French contouer, comptoir (14c.) "counting room, table of a bank," from Medieval Latin computatorium "place of accounts," from Latin computatus, past participle of computare (see compute). Generalized 19c. from banks to shops, then extended to display cases for goods. Phrase under the counter is from 1926.
- counter (v.)
- "go against," late 14c., from Old French countre "facing opposite" (see counter-). Related: Countered; countering. As an adverb, from mid-15c.; as an adjective, from 1590s.
Example
- 1. Will you take these to the clearance counter ?
- 2. People often counter my argument by presenting such examples .
- 3. Build in the right behavior to counter your problem .
- 4. When called , this method simply increments your counter .
- 5. Few governments have room for manoeuvre through an old-fashioned counter - cyclical fiscal stimulus .