~ 1
■ noun
1》 a long flat-topped fitment across which business is conducted in a shop or food and drinks are served.
↘ N. Amer. a worktop.
2》 a small disc used in board games for keeping the score or as a place marker.
↘a token representing a coin.
3》 a factor used to give one party an advantage in negotiations.
4》 a person or thing that counts something.
↘ Physics an apparatus used for counting individual ionizing particles or events.
Phrases
over the ~ by ordinary retail purchase, with no need for a prescription or licence.
↘(of share transactions) taking place outside the stock exchange system.
under the ~ (or table ) (with reference to goods bought or sold) surreptitiously and illegally.
Origin
ME (in sense 2): from OFr. conteor , from med. L. computatorium , from L. computare (see compute ).
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~ 2
■ verb
1》 speak or act in opposition or response to.
2》 Boxing give a return blow while parrying.
■ adverb ( ~ to ) in the opposite direction to or in conflict with.
■ adjective responding to something of the same kind, especially in opposition: argument and ~ argument.
■ noun
1》 an act or speech which ~s something else.
2》 Boxing a ~punch.
3》 the curved part of the stern of a ship projecting aft above the waterline.
4》 Printing the white space enclosed by a letter such as O or c .
Origin
ME: from OFr. contre , from L. contra 'against'.
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~ 3
■ noun the back part of a shoe or boot, enclosing the heel.
Origin
C19: abbrev. of ~fort 'buttress', from Fr. contrefort .