| noun | table consisting of a horizontal surface over which business is transacted |
| noun | game equipment (as a piece of wood, plastic, or ivory) used for keeping a count or reserving a space in various card or board games |
| noun | a calculator that keeps a record of the number of times something happens |
| noun | a piece of furniture that stands at the side of a dining room; has shelves and drawers |
| noun | a person who counts things |
| noun | a quick reply to a question or remark (especially a witty or critical one) “it brought a sharp rejoinder from the teacher” |
| noun | (computer science) a register whose contents go through a regular series of states (usually states indicating consecutive integers) |
| noun | a piece of leather forming the back of a shoe or boot “a counter may be used to stiffen the material around the heel and to give support to the foot” |
| noun | a return punch (especially by a boxer) |
| verb | speak in response “He countered with some very persuasive arguments” |
| verb | act in advance of; deal with ahead of time |
| adjective | indicating opposition or resistance |
| adverb | in the opposite direction “run counter” |
| count | verb | determine the number or amount of |
| retort | verb | answer back |
| return | verb | answer back |
| riposte | verb | answer back |
| come back | verb | answer back |
| counter | verb | speak in response |
| parry | verb | impede the movement of (an opponent or a ball) |
| counter | noun | a quick reply to a question or remark (especially a witty or critical one) |
| anticipatory | adjective | in anticipation |
| anticipator | noun | one who anticipates |
| forestalling | noun | the act of preventing something by anticipating and disposing of it effectively |
| antagonist | noun | someone who offers opposition |
| antagonism | noun | the relation between opposing principles or forces or factors |