a long, flat, narrow surface or table in a shop, bank, restaurant, etc. at which people are served:
There was nobody behind/on the counter when I went into the bank, and I had to wait to be served.
You will find sausages on the meat counter/rolls on the bread counter.
a kitchen counter :
We stacked the dirty plates on the kitchen counter.
a small object used to mark someone's place in some games played on boards
a person or machine that counts
to react to something with an opposing opinion or action, or to defend yourself against something:
After the government bombed their camp, the rebels countered with an attack on the capital.
When criticisms were made of the school's performance, the parents' group countered with details of its exam results.
Extra police have been moved into the area to counter the risk of violence.
in a way that opposes something:
Bob's decision not to take the job ran counter to his family's expectations.
opposing or as a reaction to something:
a counterattack (= an attack on someone who has attacked you)
a long, flat, narrow surface in a store, bank, restaurant, etc., at which people are served:
He sat down at the counter of the diner and ordered a cup of coffee.
A counter is also a flat surface in a kitchen on which food can be prepared.
to react to something with an opposing opinion or action; to defend yourself against something:
[ T ] To counter the inaccuracies in the movie, researchers used computer models to project climate changes.
in a way that opposes an opinion or action:
David’s decision to drop out of school to write plays ran counter to (= was directly opposite to) his parent’s expectations.
the place where customers go to be served or to buy goods in a store:
Please pay at the counter.
You will find rolls on the bread counter.
the checkout counter
He serves behind the counter at the local deli.