▸ count out
1 PHRASAL VERB If you count out a sum of money, you count the notes or coins as you put them in a pile one by one. □ [V P n] Mr. Rohmbauer counted out the money and put it in an envelope. [Also V n P ]
2 PHRASAL VERB [usu imper] If you tell someone to count you out , you mean that you do not want to be included in an activity. □ [V n P ] If this is the standard to which I have to drop to gain membership, then count me out!
▸ count towards in AM, usually use count toward PHRASAL VERB If something counts towards or counts toward an achievement or right, it is included as one of the things that give you the right to it. □ [V P n] In many courses, work from the second year onwards can count towards the final degree.
▸ count up → see count 2
▸ count upon → see count on COLLOCATIONS count VERB
1
count + adverb : backwards, slowly
2
count + noun : calories, cash, minutes, votes; number
7
noun + count : opinion
Count /kaʊ nt/ (counts ) also count N‑COUNT ; N‑TITLE A Count is a European nobleman with the same rank as an English earl. □ Her father was a Polish Count.
count|able noun /kaʊ ntəb ə l naʊ n/ (countable nouns ) N‑COUNT A countable noun is the same as a count noun .
count|down /kaʊ ntdaʊn/ (countdowns )
1 N‑SING A countdown is the counting aloud of numbers in reverse order before something happens, especially before a spacecraft is launched. □ The countdown has begun for the launch of the space shuttle.
2 N‑COUNT The countdown to an event is the period of time leading up to the event. □ [+ to ] …the countdown to the next election.
coun|te|nance /kaʊ nt I nəns/ (countenances , countenancing , countenanced )
1 VERB If someone will not countenance something, they do not agree with it and will not allow it to happen. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] Jake would not countenance Janis's marrying while still a student.
2 N‑COUNT Someone's countenance is their face. [LITERARY ]
coun|ter ◆◇◇ /kaʊ ntə r / (counters , countering , countered )
1 N‑COUNT In a place such as a shop or café, a counter is a long narrow table or flat surface at which customers are served. □ …a woman serving behind the counter at a bakery. □ …the cosmetics counter.
2 VERB If you do something to counter a particular action or process, you do something which has an opposite effect to it or makes it less effective. □ [V n] The leadership discussed a plan of economic measures to counter the effects of such a blockade. □ [V + by ] Sears then countered by filing an antitrust lawsuit.
3 N‑SING Something that is a counter to something else has an opposite effect to it or makes it less effective. □ [+ to ] Pay and benefits can be used as a counter to job insecurity.
4 VERB If you counter something that someone has said, you say something which shows that you disagree with them or which proves that they are wrong. □ [V n] Both of them had to counter fierce criticism. □ [V + with ] The union countered with letters rebutting the company's claims. □ [V + by ] The Prime Minister countered by stating that he had grave misgivings about the advice he had been given. □ [V with quote] 'But Peter, it's not that simple,' Goldstone countered in a firm voice. [Also V that]
5 N‑COUNT A counter is a mechanical or electronic device which keeps a count of something and displays the total. □ …an answerphone with an LED display call counter.
6 N‑COUNT A counter is a small, flat, round object used in board games.
7 → see also bargaining counter , bean counter , Geiger counter , rev counter
8 PHRASE If a medicine can be bought over the counter , you do not need a prescription to buy it. □ Are you taking any other medicines whether on prescription or bought over the counter? □ …basic over-the-counter remedies.
9 PHRASE Over-the-counter shares are bought and sold directly rather than on a stock exchange. [BUSINESS ]
10 PHRASE If one thing runs counter to another, or if one thing is counter to another, the first thing is the opposite of the second thing or conflicts with it. [FORMAL ] □ Much of the plan runs counter to European agriculture and environmental policy.
11 PHRASE If someone buys or sells goods under the counter , they buy or sell them secretly and illegally. □ The smugglers allegedly sold the gold under the counter, cheating the VAT man out of £5 million. COLLOCATIONS counter VERB
2
counter + noun : attack, extremism, terrorism, threat; effect
4
counter + noun : accusation, argument, claim, criticism
PREFIX counter-
forms words that refer to actions or activities that oppose another action or activity. For example, a counter-measure is an action you take to weaken the effect of another action or situation.
counter|act /kaʊ ntərækt/ (counteracts , counteracting , counteracted ) VERB To counteract something means to reduce its effect by doing something that produces an opposite effect. □ [V n] My husband has to take several pills to counteract high blood pressure.