counter

Universal Words noun, verb, adverb noun 1 a long flat surface over which goods are sold or business is done in a shop/store, bank, etc: I asked the woman behind the counter if they had any postcards of the church. 2 (especially AmE) = WORKTOP 3 a small disc used for playing or scoring in some board games seealsoBARGAININGCOUNTER 4 (especially in compounds) an electronic device for counting sth: The needle on the rev counter soared. * You need to reset the counter. seealsoGEIGERCOUNTER 5 [usuallysing.] ~ (to sb/sth) (formal) a response to sb/sth that opposes their ideas, position, etc: The employers' association was seen as a counter to union power. IDIOMS over the counter goods, especially medicines, for sale over the counter can be bought without a PRESCRIPTION (= written permission from a doctor to buy a medicine) or special LICENCE (= written permission): These tablets are available over the counter. seealsoOVER-THE-COUNTER under the counter goods that are bought or sold under the counter are sold secretly and sometimes illegally: Pornography may be legally banned but it is still available under the counter. verb 1 ~ (sb/sth) (with sth) to reply to sb by trying to prove that what they said is not true: [VN] Such arguments are not easily countered. * [Vthat] I tried to argue but he countered that the plans were not yet finished. [also Vspeech, V] 2 [VN] to do sth to reduce or prevent the bad effects of sth: Businesses would like to see new laws to counter late payments of debts. adverb ~ to sth in the opposite direction to sth; in opposition to sth: The government's plans run counter to agreed European policy on this issue.