counter
//ˈkaʊn.tə//
Forms
- Plural
- counters
- present (v1)
- counter
- past (v2)
- countered
- past participle (v3)
- countered
- present participle
- countering
- 3rd person singular
- counters
Definitions
1.One who counts.
- He's only 16 months, but is already a good counter – he can count to 100.
2.A reckoner; someone who collects data by counting; an enumerator.
3.An object (now especially a small disc) used in counting or keeping count, or as a marker in games, etc.
- He rolled a six on the dice, so moved his counter forward six spaces.
4.A telltale; a contrivance attached to an engine, printing press, or other machine, for the purpose of counting the revolutions or the pulsations.
1.Contrary, in opposition; in an opposite direction.
2.In the wrong way; contrary to the right course.
1.To contradict, oppose.
- I don't remember the conversation totally verbatim, yet I remember the tone, increasingly angry on my part, and flippant and snide on his. We countered back and forth at least three times.
2.To return a blow while receiving one, as in boxing.
- His left hand countered provokingly.
Frequency
Overall
Uncommon· #3221
By learning goal
- Everyday conversation
- Rare
- General reading & writing
- Uncommon
- Academic
- Rare
- Literature
- Uncommon
Related words
Word family
Etymology
Inherited from Middle English countour, from Old French conteor (French comptoir), from Medieval Latin computātōrium, from Latin computō, equivalent to count + -er.
Doublet of cantore, computer, and kontor.