counter

A flat raised surface where customers pay or are served in a shop or similar place.

• Pay at the counter, please.
• The assistant stood behind the counter.
• He left his change on the shop counter.

Common phrases: shop counter, behind the counter, at the counter

A flat surface in a kitchen where you prepare food.

• Put the bread on the counter.
• She wiped the kitchen counter after cooking.
• Our new counters are made of stone.

Similar words: countertop, worktop

Common phrases: kitchen counter, on the counter, wipe the counter

A small flat piece used for counting or marking your position in a game.

• Choose a red counter.
• She moved her counter three spaces forward.
• We used counters to practise adding numbers.

Similar words: marker, token

Common phrases: move a counter, plastic counter, game counter

A move made in response to an opponent’s attack to defend yourself or gain an advantage.

• He answered the punch with a quick counter.
• She knows a counter to that hold.
• The coach showed us several effective counters.

How to use it: a counter to something (She practised a counter to that wrestling hold.)

Similar words: countermove

Common phrases: counter to something, effective counter, quick counter

A person who counts things.

• Each counter checked a pile of votes.
• The counters worked late into the night.
• An experienced counter can spot mistakes quickly.

Common phrases: vote counter, ballot counter, experienced counter

Opposite to something, or against it.

• His decision was counter to our wishes.
• They offered a counter argument during the debate.
• This approach is counter to the available evidence.

How to use it: be counter to something (The proposal is counter to our agreed policy.)

Similar words: opposing, contrary

Common phrases: counter to something, counter argument, counter view

In the wrong direction, against the proper path or course.

• The hound ran counter along the trail.
• One dog hunted counter and lost the scent.
• The hunter called back the hound that was running counter.

Similar words: backwards

Common phrases: run counter, hunt counter