counter
counter — noun
1. a long narrow table or flat surface found in places such as shops, banks, or res
a long narrow table or flat surface found in places such as shops, banks, or restaurants, where customers are served or business is carried out
Baraka stood at the airport check-in counter with his passport and boarding pass.
collocation: at the counter
The shop assistant placed the gift on the counter and wrapped it carefully in red paper.
Shirin leaned on the counter and asked the receptionist whether any rooms were available.
Customers who pay at the counter receive a printed receipt with their change.
- desk
usually a writing surface in an office, not a service point in a shop
文法句型
at the counter
behind the counter
用法筆記
Frequently paired with prepositions 'at', 'behind', or 'over' to indicate position relative to the surface. 'Behind the counter' refers to the staff area.
常見錯誤
2. a level work area built into kitchen cabinetry, used for chopping, mixing, and o
a level work area built into kitchen cabinetry, used for chopping, mixing, and other food preparation tasks
Élise rolled out the dough on the clean granite counter and cut it into circles.
collocation: on the counter
Ziad wiped the kitchen counter with a damp cloth after chopping the vegetables.
Haruto set the hot pan down on a wooden board instead of directly on the counter.
The counter was covered with bowls of fruit, a coffee machine, and a stack of mail.
- worktop
British English equivalent; refers to the same kitchen surface
文法句型
on the counter
用法筆記
This sense is the standard term in North American English; in British English 'worktop' or 'work surface' is more common.
3. a small round or shaped piece of plastic, wood, or metal that players push aroun
a small round or shaped piece of plastic, wood, or metal that players push around a board to show where they are in games such as chess, backgammon, or Monopoly
Sade carefully moved her red counter three spaces forward on the board.
collocation: move a counter
The children counted their coloured counters at the end of each round of the game.
A single white counter remained on the board after Dario captured all the other pieces.
Esme rolled the dice and moved her blue counter past the finish line first.
文法句型
move a counter
counters on a board
用法筆記
Distinguish from 'piece' or 'token' — 'counter' emphasises the object used for keeping score or marking position rather than the playing piece itself. Often used in abstract strategy games.
4. a device, machine, or person that records how many times something happens or ho
a device, machine, or person that records how many times something happens or how many items there are
The electronic counter on the gym door showed that 47 people were inside.
Hyun worked as an official vote counter during the city council election last November.
person as counter
A small handheld counter helped Ada keep track of how many visitors entered the museum.
The factory installed a digital counter to track how many bottles came off the line each hour.
- tally counter
a specific handheld mechanical device for counting
- teller
a person who counts votes, used in formal contexts
文法句型
a counter for [something]
electronic counter
用法筆記
When referring to a person, 'counter' is most often used in compound roles such as 'vote counter' or 'bean counter' (informal, sometimes negative).
5. in American football, a type of play where the player carrying the ball heads on
in American football, a type of play where the player carrying the ball heads one way, then switches direction suddenly to trick the defending team
The quarterback handed the ball off, and the running back executed a perfect counter to the left.
collocation: execute a counter
Cyrus faked a run up the middle and then used a counter to gain fifteen yards.
The coach called a counter on third down, and the runner found a gap on the right side.
Defenders were caught off guard when the running back cut back on a counter play.
- reverse
a different type of play where the ball changes direction through a handoff, not just a change of direction by the runner
文法句型
run a counter
counter play
用法筆記
Used primarily by coaches, players, and commentators. Not common in everyday conversation outside of American football contexts.
6. a retaliatory strike thrown by a boxer straight after evading or blocking the op
a retaliatory strike thrown by a boxer straight after evading or blocking the opponent's punch, exploiting an opening
The boxer saw the jab coming, ducked under it, and landed a hard counter to the jaw.
collocation: land a counter
Iker's right cross was his best counter, and he practised it for hours every morning.
The trainer taught the young fighter how to throw a counter immediately after slipping a punch.
A clean counter to the chin sent the challenger stumbling backward across the ring.
- counterpunch
the full term; 'counter' is a shortened form used informally
文法句型
land a counter
throw a counter
用法筆記
Almost always used in boxing commentary and training. The verb form 'counter' (to throw a counter-punch) is also common in this context.
7. in bowls, a bowl sitting nearer to the jack (the small white marker ball) than a
in bowls, a bowl sitting nearer to the jack (the small white marker ball) than any bowl the other side has delivered
With her final delivery Padma placed a perfect counter just inches from the jack.
collocation: place a counter
After all bowls in the round were played, the team had two counters and scored three points in total.
To win the match, the skip needed to draw a counter past the opponent's nearest bowl.
The crowd cheered when the last bowl stopped rolling and turned out to be a counter.
文法句型
have a counter
lie a counter
用法筆記
This sense is specific to lawn bowls and crown green bowls. A 'counter' gives the player or team a scoring position.
counter — verb
1. to say or do something in response to an argument, criticism, attack, or proposa
to say or do something in response to an argument, criticism, attack, or proposal, especially in order to oppose it or reduce its effect
Christopher countered the criticism by pointing out that sales had actually risen by twenty percent.
pattern: counter + noun + by + -ing
The lawyer countered that the evidence had been obtained without a proper warrant.
pattern: counter + that-clause
Gabriela listened to her proposal and then countered with a more affordable alternative.
When the prosecution presented its case, the defence team quickly countered each point with documents.
文法句型
counter + noun phrase
counter + that-clause
counter + by + -ing
counter + with + noun
用法筆記
Common with 'with' to introduce what you offer as opposition ('countered with a question'), and with 'that'-clause for a stated rebuttal. The object is typically an argument, criticism, attack, or proposal.
常見錯誤
2. in boxing, to hit an opponent back immediately after dodging or blocking their p
in boxing, to hit an opponent back immediately after dodging or blocking their punch
Mathieu blocked the left hook and countered with a quick right jab to the ribs.
pattern: counter + with + noun phrase
The champion waited for his opponent to throw first and then countered with devastating accuracy.
intransitive use
Sivan stepped inside the reach of her taller opponent and countered with a short uppercut.
After taking a hit to the shoulder, the boxer spun away and countered before the bell rang.
- counterpunch
the full verb form, less common than the noun
文法句型
counter + noun
counter with + noun
用法筆記
Almost exclusive to boxing commentary and training. The noun form 'counter' (sense 6 under noun) is closely related.
counter — adjective
1. moving or acting in the opposite direction or having an opposite effect; used to
moving or acting in the opposite direction or having an opposite effect; used to describe forces, actions, or proposals that work against something else
The government introduced counter measures to reduce the impact of rising inflation.
collocation: counter measures
A counter argument to that view is that renewable energy is already cheaper than coal.
collocation: counter argument
The lawyer prepared a counter proposal that addressed each of the client's concerns.
Environmental groups offered a counter report that challenged the factory's safety data.
- supporting
acting in favour of, not against
文法句型
counter + noun
用法筆記
The adjective is most often found as part of compound nouns: counter-argument, counter-measure, counter-proposal. These are sometimes written with a hyphen.
2. showing opposition or an unfriendly, resistant attitude toward someone or someth
showing opposition or an unfriendly, resistant attitude toward someone or something
Manager Lucas Chen's decision to cut overtime was counter to the team's spirit of cooperation.
pattern: be counter to [something]
The board found the proposal counter to the company's long-term environmental goals.
Any decision that is counter to the club's rules will be rejected by the committee.
Publishing false information is counter to the values of honest journalism that Ilan believes in.
- opposed
similar meaning but 'opposed to' is more common in everyday language
- supportive of
showing agreement or backing
文法句型
be counter to [something]
用法筆記
Typically used in the fixed phrase 'counter to [something]', meaning 'in opposition to'. More formal than 'against'.
常見錯誤
3. located on the opposite side; facing or lying directly across from something
located on the opposite side; facing or lying directly across from something
The counter side of the building gets afternoon light, while the front stays shaded.
collocation: counter side
From the counter bank of the river, the village looked peaceful and untouched.
The two armies faced each other from counter hills across the wide valley.
Shanti stood on the counter slope and watched the sunset over the distant mountains.
文法句型
the counter side
用法筆記
Rare in modern English; 'opposite' is far more common for this meaning. This sense survives mainly in formal or literary descriptions of geography or architecture.
counter — adverb
1. in a direction or manner that goes against something or someone; in opposition
in a direction or manner that goes against something or someone; in opposition
The new policy runs counter to everything the organisation has stood for over the past decade.
pattern: run counter to [something]
Eve's decision to drop out of college went counter to her family's expectations and advice.
pattern: go counter to [something]
Acting counter to the doctor's instructions only made the patient's condition worse.
As a pacifist, Eric believed that violence runs counter to everything he stands for.
- contrary to
more common; 'contrary to expectations' is a frequent use
- in line with
in agreement with
文法句型
run/go counter to [something]
用法筆記
Almost always used in the fixed phrases 'run counter to' or 'go counter to'. Cannot stand alone as a sentence adverb (*'Counter, she decided to leave').
常見錯誤
counter — prefix
1. attached to the front of a word to give it the sense of 'opposite', 'against', o
attached to the front of a word to give it the sense of 'opposite', 'against', or 'in response to', forming new words that describe contrary or retaliatory actions
The army launched a counterattack at dawn, catching the enemy by surprise.
counter- + attack = retaliatory attack
Each department in the company has a counterpart in the international branch.
counter- + part = matching person/thing
Skipping meals is counterproductive if your goal is to build muscle and stay healthy.
Turn the knob counterclockwise to open the valve and let the water flow through.
- pro-
prefix meaning 'in favour of' (e.g. proactive, pro-democracy)
文法句型
counter- + noun
counter- + verb
counter- + adjective
用法筆記
A productive prefix in English. Common words formed with counter- include: counterattack, counterbalance, counterclockwise, countermeasure, counterpart, counterproductive, countdown (different origin). The hyphen is often dropped in well-established compounds (counterattack, counterpart) but may be kept in newer or less frequent formations.