(~s, ~ing, ~ed)
Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
1.
In a place such as a shop or cafe, a ~ is a long narrow table or flat surface at which customers are served.
...those fellows we see working behind the ~ at our local video rental store.
...the cosmetics ~...
N-COUNT
2.
If you do something to ~ a particular action or process, you do something which has an opposite effect to it or makes it less effective.
The leadership discussed a plan of economic measures to ~ the effects of such a blockade...
Sears then ~ed by filing an antitrust lawsuit.
VERB: V n, V by -ing
3.
Something that is a ~ to something else has an opposite effect to it or makes it less effective.
...NATO’s traditional role as a ~ to the military might of the Warsaw pact.
N-SING: a N to n
4.
If you ~ something that someone has said, you say something which shows that you disagree with them or which proves that they are wrong.
Both of them had to ~ fierce criticism...
The union ~ed with letters rebutting the company’s claims...
The Prime Minister ~ed by stating that he had grave misgivings about the advice he had been given...
‘But Peter, it’s not that simple,’ Goldstone ~ed in a firm voice.
VERB: V n, V with n, V by -ing, V with quote, also V that
5.
A ~ is a mechanical or electronic device which keeps a count of something and displays the total.
...an answerphone with an LED display call ~.
N-COUNT: usu supp N
6.
A ~ is a small, flat, round object used in board games.
N-COUNT
7.
see also bargaining ~ , bean ~ , Geiger ~ , rev ~
8.
If a medicine can be bought over the ~, you do not need a prescription to buy it.
Are you taking any other medicines whether on prescription or bought over the ~?
...basic over-the-~ remedies.
PHRASE
9.
Over-the-~ shares are bought and sold directly rather than on a stock exchange. (BUSINESS)
PHRASE: usu PHR n
10.
If one thing runs ~ to another, or if one thing is ~ to another, the first thing is the opposite of the second thing or conflicts with it. (FORMAL)
Much of the plan runs ~ to European agriculture and environmental policy...
PHRASE: V inflects, PHR to n
11.
If someone buys or sells goods under the ~, they buy or sell them secretly and illegally.
The smugglers allegedly sold the gold under the ~, cheating the VAT man out of ?5 million.
PHRASE: PHR after v