1. A flat surface on which money is counted, business is transacted, or food is prepared or served. 2.Games A piece, as of wood or ivory, used for keeping a count or a place. 3a. An imitation coin; a token. b. A piece of money.
IDIOMS:
over the counter1. Without being listed or available on an officially recognized stock exchange but traded in direct negotiation between buyers and sellers: bought stocks over the counter.2. Without a doctor's prescription being legally required: cold medicine that is available over the counter.under the counter In an illegal or surreptitious manner; illicitly: arrested for selling prescription drugs under the counter.
ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English countour, from Anglo-Norman counteour, from Medieval Latin computtrium, countinghouse, from Latin computre, to calculate. See count1.
koun
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rium, countinghouse, from Latin comput
