One who counts, or reckons up; a calculator; a reckoner. [1913 Webster]
A piece of metal, ivory, wood, or bone, used in reckoning, in keeping account of games, etc. [1913 Webster]
"The old gods of our own race whose names . . . serve as counters reckon the days of the week." [1913 Webster]

"What comes the wool to? . . . I can not do it without counters." [1913 Webster]
Money; coin; -- used in contempt. [1913 Webster]
"To lock such rascal counters from his friends." [1913 Webster]
A prison; either of two prisons formerly in London. [1913 Webster]
"Anne Aysavugh . . . imprisoned in the Counter." [1913 Webster]
A telltale; a contrivance attached to an engine, printing press, or other machine, for the purpose of counting the revolutions or the pulsations. Knight. [1913 Webster]

counter, n. [OE. countour, OF. contouer, comptouer, F. comptoir, LL. computatorium, prop., a computing place, place of accounts, fr. L. computare. See Count, v. t.].

A table or board on which money is counted and over which business is transacted; a long, narrow table or bench, on which goods are laid for examination by purchasers, or on which they are weighed or measured. [1913 Webster]

Over the counter (a) (Stock Exchanges), in an office; -- said of business so done, as distinguished from that done at an exchange. [Cant] -- (a) without a prescription; needing no prescription; -- said of medicines that can be legally bought without a physician's prescription.

counter, adv. [F. contre, fr. L. contra against. Cf. Contra-.].

Contrary; in opposition; in an opposite direction; contrariwise; -- used chiefly with run or go. [1913 Webster]
"Running counter to all the rules of virtue." [1913 Webster]
In the wrong way; contrary to the right course; as, a hound that runs counter. [1913 Webster]
"This is counter, you false Danish dogs!" [1913 Webster]
At or against the front or face. [1913 Webster]
"Which [darts] they never throw counter, but at the back of the flier." [1913 Webster]

counter, a.

Contrary; opposite; contrasted; opposed; adverse; antagonistic; as, a counter current; a counter revolution; a counter poison; a counter agent; counter fugue. I. Taylor. [1913 Webster]

Counter approach (Fort.), a trench or work pushed forward from defensive works to meet the approaches of besiegers. See Approach. -- Counter bond (Law), in old practice, a bond to secure one who has given bond for another. -- Counter brace. See Counter brace, in Vocabulary. -- Counter deed (Law), a secret writing which destroys, invalidates, or alters, a public deed. -- Counter distinction, contradistinction. [Obs.] -- Counter drain, a drain at the foot of the embankment of a canal or watercourse, for carrying off the water that may soak through. -- Counter extension (Surg.), the fixation of the upper part of a limb, while extension is practiced on the lower part, as in cases of luxation or fracture. -- Counter fissure (Surg.) Same as Contrafissure. -- Counter indication. (Med.) Same as Contraindication. -- Counter irritant (Med.), an irritant to produce a blister, a pustular eruption, or other irritation in some part of the body, in order to relieve an existing irritation in some other part. “Counter irritants are of as great use in moral as in physical diseases.” Macaulay. -- Counter irritation (Med.), the act or the result of applying a counter irritant. -- Counter opening, an aperture or vent on the opposite side, or in a different place. -Counter parole (Mil.), a word in addition to the password, given in time of alarm as a signal. -- Counter plea (Law), a replication to a plea. Cowell. -- Counter pressure, force or pressure that acts in a contrary direction to some other opposing pressure. -- Counter project, a project, scheme, or proposal brought forward in opposition to another, as in the negotiation of a treaty. Swift. -- Counter proof, in engraving, a print taken off from another just printed, which, by being passed through the press, gives a copy in reverse, and of course in the same position as that of plate from which the first was printed, the object being to enable the engraver to inspect the state of the plate. -- Counter revolution, a revolution opposed to a former one, and restoring a former state of things. -- Counter revolutionist, one engaged in, or befriending, a counter revolution. -- Counter round (Mil.), a body of officers whose duty it is to visit and inspect the rounds and sentinels. -- Counter sea (Naut.), a sea running in an opposite direction from the wind. -- Counter sense, opposite meaning. -- Counter signal, a signal to answer or correspond to another. -- Counter signature, the name of a secretary or other officer countersigned to a writing. Tooke. -- Counter slope, an overhanging slope; as, a wall with a counter slope. Mahan. -- Counter statement, a statement made in opposition to, or denial of, another statement. -- Counter surety, a counter bond, or a surety to secure one who has given security. -- Counter tally, a tally corresponding to another. -- Counter tide, contrary tide.

counter, n. [See Counter, adv., Contra.].

The after part of a vessel's body, from the water line to the stern, -- below and somewhat forward of the stern proper. [1913 Webster]
Same as Contra. Formerly used to designate any under part which served for contrast to a principal part, but now used as equivalent to counter tenor. [1913 Webster]
The breast, or that part of a horse between the shoulders and under the neck. [1913 Webster]
The back leather or heel part of a boot. [1913 Webster]

counter, n.

An encounter. [1913 Webster]

"With kindly counter under mimic shade." [1913 Webster]

counter, v. i.

To return a blow while receiving one, as in boxing. [1913 Webster]

"His left hand countered provokingly." [1913 Webster]

top

OXFORD DICTIONARY

counter, n.
1 a a long flat-topped fitment in a shop, bank, etc., across which business is conducted with customers. b a similar structure used for serving food etc. in a cafeteria or bar.
2 a a small disc used for keeping the score etc. esp. in table-games. b a token representing a coin. c something used in bargaining; a pawn (a counter in the struggle for power).
3 an apparatus used for counting.
4 Physics an apparatus used for counting individual ionizing particles etc.
5 a person or thing that counts.

Idiom

over the counter by ordinary retail purchase. under the counter (esp. of the sale of scarce goods) surreptitiously, esp. illegally.

counter, v., adv., adj., & n.
--v.
1 tr. a oppose, contradict (countered our proposal with their own). b meet by a countermove.
2 intr. a make a countermove. b make an opposing statement ('I shall!' he countered).
3 intr. Boxing give a return blow while parrying.
--adv.
1 in the opposite direction (ran counter to the fox).
2 contrary (his action was counter to my wishes).
--adj.
1 opposed; opposite.
2 duplicate; serving as a check.
--n.
1 a parry; a countermove.
2 something opposite or opposed.

Idiom

act (or go) counter to disobey (instructions etc.). go (or hunt or run) counter run or ride against the direction taken by a quarry. run counter to act contrary to.

counter, n.
1 the part of a horse's breast between the shoulders and under the neck.
2 the curved part of the stern of a ship.
3 Printing a part of a printing-type etc. that is completely enclosed by an outline (e.g. the loop of P).

counter, n. the back part of a shoe or a boot round the heel.

Etymology

abbr. of counterfort buttress

top

THESAURUS

counter

Geiger counter, Wilson chamber, X-ray spectrograph, X-ray spectrometer, abjure, adversary, adversative, adverse, adversive, advocate, against the grain, against the tide, against the wind, agree to disagree, alien, allege in support, alpha pulse analyzer, ambo, answer, antagonistic, antagonize, anti, antipathetic, antipodal, antipode, antipodean, antipodes, antipole, antithesis, antithetic, antithetical, antonym, antonymous, argue for, ascender, assert, assert the contrary, at cross-purposes, at daggers, at daggers drawn, at issue, at odds, at opposite extremes, at variance, at war with, athwart, atom counter, atom-tagger, back, back to back, backward, baffle, baggage check, balancing, balk, bar, bastard type, be antipathetic, be at cross-purposes, be inimical, be opposed to, beard, beat against, beat off, belie, belly, bench, bevel, black letter, blast, block, board, body, boomerang, boron counter, brave, break, break off, buffet, cap, capital, case, challenge, champion, check, checkmate, chip, circumvent, clash, clashing, cloud chamber, collide, come back at, comeback, compensating, competitive, con, conflict, conflict with, conflicting, confound, confront, confronting, confute, contend for, contest, contra, contradict, contradictory, contradistinct, contrapose, contrapositive, contrarious, contrariwise, contrary, contrast with, contrasted, contrasting, contravene, controvert, converse, cosmic ray counter, counteract, counteractive, counterattack, counterbalance, counterbalancing, counterblast, counterblow, countercheck, countermand, counterpoint, counterpoise, counterpoised, counterpole, counterpose, counterstroke, counterterm, countervail, countervailing, counterwork, counting tube, coupon, cross, dash, dead against, defeat, defend, defy, deny, descender, desk, destroy, detrimental, differ, different, difficult, disaccord, disaccordant, disaffirm, disagree, disallow, disavow, disc, disclaim, discomfit, disconcert, discordant, discountenance, discrepant, dish, disown, disparate, disprove, dispute, disrupt, dissent, dissentient, dissimilar, divergent, diverse, drive back, electronic counter, elude, em, en, enemy, escritoire, espouse, exchange, expansion chamber, eyeball to eyeball, eyeball-to-eyeball, face, face to face, fantail, fat-faced type, feet, fend, fend off, flummox, foil, font, forswear, fractious, frustrate, gainsay, gamma ray counter, get back at, give and take, give in exchange, give in return, give-and-take, go against, go counter to, groove, hard, hardly like, harmful, hat check, heavy particle counter, heel, hinder, hindering, hit back at, hold at bay, hold off, hostile, impeding, impugn, in confrontation, in hostile array, in opposition, inconsistent, inimical, interchange, interfere with, inverse, ion counter, ionization chamber, ionizing event, italic, jangle, jar, join issue upon, join the opposition, jostle, just opposite, juxtapose in opposition, keep at bay, keep off, knock the chocks, lectern, letter, ligature, lock horns, logotype, lower case, maintain, majuscule, make a plea, marker, match, meet head-on, militate against, minuscule, miserable, mismatch, mismate, negate, negative, nick, noncooperative, nonplus, nonuniform, nose to nose, not abide, not accept, not admit, not easy, notions counter, nullify, object, obstinate, obstruct, obstructive, obverse, odd, off, offbeat, offset, opponent, oppose, opposed, opposing, opposite, opposite number, oppositional, oppositive, oppugn, oppugnant, out, overthwart, parry, particle counter, perplex, perverse, pi, pica, piece, pit, play at cross-purposes, plead for, point, polar, poles apart, poop, print, protest, push back, pushcart, put back, radiodetector, rebuff, rebut, recalcitrant, recant, reciprocate, reciprocation, recoil, reflex, refractory, refuse to admit, refute, renounce, repel, reply, repudiate, repugnant, repulse, resist, respond, retaliate, retaliation, retort, retract, return, reverse, reversed, revoke, rigorous, riposte, rival, roman, rudderpost, ruin, run against, run counter to, sabotage, sans serif, say in defense, scarcely like, scotch, scrip, script, secretaire, secretary, set off, setoff, shank, shopboard, shoulder, showcase, sinister, slug, small cap, small capital, speak for, speak up for, spike, spoil, squared off, stamp, stand, stand up for, stave off, stem, stern, stick up for, stop, stressful, strike back, stump, support, sustain, swim upstream, table, tag, tail end, take back, take issue with, the contrary, the other side, thwart, ticket, token, traverse, troublesome, troublous, trying, tube counter, turn aside, turned around, type, type body, type class, type lice, typecase, typeface, typefounders, typefoundry, unalike, uncooperative, unfavorable, unfriendly, unidentical, unlike, unmatched, unpropitious, unresembling, unsame, unsimilar, untoward, up in arms, uphold, upper case, upset, urge reasons for, vary, vie, vis-a-vis, vote against, ward off, with crossed bayonets, withstand, work against, workbench, wretched, writing table, wrong-way, wrong-way around

top

ROGET THESAURUS

counter

Contrariety

N contrariety, contrast, foil, antithesis, oppositeness, contradiction, antagonism, clashing, repugnance, inversion, the opposite, the reverse, the inverse, the converse, the antipodes, the antithesis, the other extreme, contrary, contrarious, contrariant, opposite, counter, dead against, converse, reverse, opposed, antithetical, contrasted, antipodean, antagonistic, opposing, conflicting, inconsistent, contradictory, at cross purposes, negative, hostile, differing toto coelo, diametrically opposite, diametrically opposed, as opposite as black and white, as opposite as light and darkness, as opposite as fire and water, as opposite as the poles, as different as night and day, Hyperion to a satyr, quite the contrary, quite the reverse, no such thing, just the other way, tout au contraire, contrarily, contra, contrariwise, per contra, on the contrary, nay rather, vice versa, on the other hand, all concord's born of contraries, Thesis, antithesis, synthesis.

Number

N number, symbol, numeral, figure, cipher, digit, integer, counter, round number, formula, function, series, sum, difference, complement, subtrahend, product, multiplicand, multiplier, multiplicator, coefficient, multiple, dividend, divisor, factor, quotient, submultiple, fraction, rational number, surd, irrational number, transcendental number, mixed number, complex number, complex conjugate, numerator, denominator, decimal, circulating decimal, repetend, common measure, aliquot part, prime number, prime, relative prime, prime factor, prime pair, reciprocal, totient, binary number, octal number, hexadecimal number, permutation, combination, variation, election, ratio, proportion, comparison, progression, arithmetical progression, geometrical progression, harmonical progression, percentage, permilage, figurate numbers, pyramidal numbers, polygonal numbers, power, root, exponent, index, logarithm, antilogarithm, modulus, base, differential, integral, fluxion, fluent, numeral, complementary, divisible, aliquot, reciprocal, prime, relatively prime, fractional, decimal, figurate, incommensurable, proportional, exponential, logarithmic, logometric, differential, fluxional, integral, totitive, positive, negative, rational, irrational, surd, radical, real, complex, imaginary, finite, infinite, impossible, numerically, modulo.

Mart

N mart, market, marketplace, fair, bazaar, staple, exchange, change, bourse, hall, guildhall, tollbooth, customhouse, Tattersall's, stall, booth, stand, newsstand, cart, wagon, wharf, office, chambers, countinghouse, bureau, counter, compter, shop, emporium, establishment, store, department store, general store, five and ten, variety store, co-op, finding store, grindery warehouse, grocery, supermarket, candy store, sweet shop, confectionery, bakery, greengrocer, delicatessen, bakeshop, butcher shop, fish store, farmers' market, mom and pop store, dairy, health food store, tobacco shop, tobacco store, tobacconists, cigar store, hardware store, jewelry shop, bookstore, liquor store, gun shop, rod and reel shop, furniture store, drugstore, chemist's, florist, flower shop, shoe store, stationer, stationer's, electronics shop, telephone store, music store, record shop, fur store, sporting goods store, video store, video rental store, lumber store, lumber yard, home improvements store, home improvement center, gas station, auto repair shop, auto dealer, used car dealer, mall, suburban mall, commons, pedestrian mall, shopping street, surplus store, army-navy surplus store, auction, flea market, yard sale, garage sale, pawn shop, antiques store, second-hand store, second time around shop, thrift shop, warehouse, wareroom, depot, interposit, entrepot, market-overt, real-estate broker, vending machine.

Support

N support, ground, foundation, base, basis, terra firma, bearing, fulcrum, bait, caudex crib, point d'appui, pou sto, purchase footing, hold, locus standi, landing place, landing stage, stage, platform, block, rest, resting place, groundwork, substratum, riprap, sustentation, subvention, floor, supporter, aid, prop, stand, anvil, fulciment, cue rest, jigger, monkey, stay, shore, skid, rib, truss, bandage, sleeper, stirrup, stilts, shoe, sole, heel, splint, lap, bar, rod, boom, sprit, outrigger, ratlings, staff, stick, crutch, alpenstock, baton, staddle, bourdon, cowlstaff, lathi, mahlstick, post, pillar, shaft, thill, column, pilaster, pediment, pedicle, pedestal, plinth, shank, leg, socle, zocle, buttress, jamb, mullion, abutment, baluster, banister, stanchion, balustrade, headstone, upright, door post, jamb, door jamb, frame, framework, scaffold, skeleton, beam, rafter, girder, lintel, joist, travis, trave, corner stone, summer, transom, rung, round, step, sill, angle rafter, hip rafter, cantilever, modillion, crown post, king post, vertebra, columella, backbone, keystone, axle, axletree, axis, arch, mainstay, trunnion, pivot, rowlock, peg, tiebeam, thole pin, board, ledge, shelf, hob, bracket, trevet, trivet, arbor, rack, mantel, mantle piece, mantleshelf, slab, console, counter, dresser, flange, corbel, table, trestle, shoulder, perch, horse, easel, desk, clotheshorse, hatrack, retable, teapoy, seat, throne, dais, divan, musnud, chair, bench, form, stool, sofa, settee, stall, arm chair, easy chair, elbow chair, rocking chair, couch, fauteuil, woolsack, ottoman, settle, squab, bench, aparejo, faldstool, horn, long chair, long sleeve chair, morris chair, lamba chauki, lamba kursi, saddle, pannel, pillion, side saddle, pack saddle, pommel, bed, berth, pallet, tester, crib, cot, hammock, shakedown, trucklebed, cradle, litter, stretcher, bedstead, four poster, French bed, bunk, kip, palang, bedding, bichhona, mattress, paillasse, pillow, bolster, mat, rug, cushion, footstool, hassock, tabouret, tripod, monopod, Atlas, Persides, Atlantes, Caryatides, Hercules, supporting, supported, fundamental, dorsigerous, astride on, straddle.

Indication

N indication, symbolism, symbolization, semiology, semiotics, semeiology, semeiotics, Zeitgeist, characteristic, diagnostic, lineament, feature, trait, fingerprint, voiceprint, footprint, noseprint, cloven hoof, footfall, recognition (memory), diagnostic, divining rod, detector, sign, symbol, index, indice, indicator, point, pointer, exponent, note, token, symptom, dollar sign, dollar mark, type, figure, emblem, cipher, device, representation, epigraph, motto, posy, gesture, gesticulation, pantomime, wink, glance, leer, nod, shrug, beck, touch, nudge, dactylology, dactylonomy, freemasonry, telegraphy, chirology, byplay, dumb show, cue, hint, clue, clew, key, scent, signal, signal post, rocket, blue light, watch fire, watch tower, telegraph, semaphore, flagstaff, cresset, fiery cross, calumet, heliograph, guidon, headlight, mark, scratch, line, stroke, dash, score, stripe, streak, tick, dot, point, notch, nick, print, imprint, impress, impression, keyboard symbols, printing symbols, red letter, italics, sublineation, underlining, bold font, jotting, note, annotation, reference, blaze, cedilla, guillemets, hachure, quotation marks, ", double quotes, " ", parentheses, "( )", brackets, "", braces, "", left arrow, "<", right arrow, ">", forward slash, "/", backward slash, "\", exclamation point, "!", commercial at, "@", pound sign, "#", percent sign, "%", carat, "", ampersand, "&", asterisk, "*", hyphen, "-", dash, "-", "_", em dash, "--", plus sign, "+", equals sign, "=", question mark, "?", period, ", ", semicolon, ", ", colon, ":", comma, ", ", apostrophe, "'", single quote, "'", tilde, "~", badge, criterion, countercheck, countermark, countersign, counterfoil, duplicate, tally, label, ticket, billet, letter, counter, check, chip, chop, dib, totem, tessera, card, bill, witness, voucher, stamp, cacher, trade mark, Hall mark, signature, mark, autograph, autography, attestation, hand, hand writing, sign manual, cipher, seal, sigil, signet, hand and seal, paraph, brand, superscription, indorsement, endorsement, password, watchword, catchword, security card, pass, passkey, credentials, open sesame, timbrology, mot de passe, mot du guet, pass-parole, shibboleth, title, heading, docket, address card, visiting card, carte de visite, insignia, banner, banneret, bannerol, bandrol, flag, colors, streamer, standard, eagle, labarum, oriflamb, oriflamme, figurehead, ensign, pennon, pennant, pendant, burgee, blue Peter, jack, ancient, gonfalon, union jack, banderole, old glory, quarantine flag, vexillum, yellow-flag, yellow jack, tricolor, stars and stripes, bunting, heraldry, crest, coat of arms, arms, armorial bearings, hatchment, escutcheon, scutcheon, shield, supporters, livery, uniform, cockade, epaulet, chevron, garland, love knot, favor, beacon, cairn, post, staff, flagstaff, hand, pointer, vane, cock, weathercock, guidepost, handpost, fingerpost, directing post, signpost, pillars of Hercules, pharos, bale-fire, beacon-fire, l'etoile du Nord, landmark, seamark, lighthouse, balize, polestar, loadstar, lodestar, cynosure, guide, address, direction, name, sign, signboard, warning, omen, prefigurement, trace, record, warning &c, alarm, scepter, trophy, gauge, milestone, milepost, brand, fool's cap, check, telltale, test, mileage ticket, milliary, notification, advertisement, word of command, call, bugle call, trumpet call, bell, alarum, cry, battle cry, rallying cry, angelus, reveille, sacring bell, sanctus bell, exposition &c (explanation), proof, pattern, indicating, indicative, indicatory, denotative, connotative, diacritical, representative, typical, symbolic, pantomimic, pathognomonic, symptomatic, characteristic, demonstrative, diagnostic, exponential, emblematic, armorial, individual, known by, recognizable by, indicated, pointed, marked, denotable, indelible, in token of, symbolically, in dumb show, ecce signum, ex ungue leonem, ex pede Herculem, vide ut supra, vultus ariete fortior.