I.
noun
1 long flat surface
ADJECTIVE
▪ checkout ( AmE ), post office ( BrE ), shop ( esp. BrE ), store ( AmE )
▪
There was a line of people waiting at the checkout ~.
▪ cosmetic ( AmE ), cosmetics , make-up
▪ deli , delicatessen , meat
▪
He works at the meat ~.
▪ bar , lunch ( AmE )
▪
They sat on high stools at the bar ~.
▪ check-in ( AmE ), reception , ticket ( esp. AmE )
▪
an airline check-in ~
▪ bathroom ( AmE ), kitchen ( esp. AmE ), sink ( AmE )
▪
She put her bags down on the kitchen ~.
▪ Formica™ ( esp. AmE ), glass , granite , marble , wooden
VERB + COUNTER
▪ serve at ( esp. AmE ), serve behind ( esp. BrE ), work at ( esp. AmE ), work behind
▪
Mary worked behind the ~ at Bacon's for a few hours a week.
▪ wipe , wipe down
▪
The bartender wiped down the ~ in silence.
▪ approach
▪
He approached the ~ and showed his ticket.
COUNTER + NOUN
▪ top ( esp. AmE )
▪
The kitchen had black marble ~ tops.
▪ staff ( BrE )
▪
post office ~ staff
PREPOSITION
▪ across a/the ~
▪
He pushed the money across the ~ to her.
▪ at a/the ~ , behind a/the ~
▪
The assistant behind the ~ gave a curt nod.
▪ on a/the ~
▪
all the goods on the ~
▪ over the ~ ( often figurative )
▪
She handed me my coffee over the ~.
▪
This kind of medication cannot be bought over the ~ ( = without a prescription ).
2 action used to prevent sth
ADJECTIVE
▪ effective
PREPOSITION
▪ ~ to
▪
an effective ~ to the blandness of modern culture
II.
verb
Counter is used with these nouns as the object: ↑ allegation , ↑ argument , ↑ criticism , ↑ effect , ↑ influence , ↑ invasion , ↑ menace , ↑ myth , ↑ perception , ↑ problem , ↑ propaganda , ↑ threat , ↑ view