📒 a long flat surface over which goods are sold or business is done in a shop, bank, etc.
- behind the counter I asked the woman behind the counter if they had any postcards.
- He pushed the money across the counter to me.
- He works at the meat counter.
📒 a flat surface in a kitchen for preparing food on
- He put his bags down on the kitchen counter.
- The kitchen had black marble counter tops.
📒 a small disc used for playing or scoring in some board games
📒 an electronic device for counting something
- The needle on the rev counter soared.
- You need to reset the counter.
📒 a person who counts something, for example votes in an election
- You can get computers to help the counters to count the votes.
📒 a response to somebody/something that opposes their ideas, position, etc.
- The employers' association was seen as a counter to union power.
- The government's programme should be an effective counter to unemployment.
- an effective counter to the blandness of modern culture
📒 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
- These tablets are available over the counter.
- This kind of medication cannot be bought over 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.