over the counter

US: (ō′vər ᵺə koun′tər)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

o′ver the count′er, 

1. not transacted through an organized securities exchange;
   directly to the buyer or from the seller:
   He sold his stocks over the counter.
2. Drugs [Pharm.] without a doctor's prescription but within the law.
• 1870–75

o•ver-the-count•er  (ō′vər ᵺə koun′tər), adj. 

1. Business unlisted on or not part of an organized securities exchange:
   over-the-counter stocks; the over-the-counter market. Abbr.:
   OTC
2. Drugs [Pharm.] sold legally without a doctor's prescription:
   over-the-counter drugs.
   Abbr.: OTC

• 1920–25

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

ˈo•ver-the-ˈcount•er,  adj. [usually: before a noun]

1. Business not listed on or not bought and sold through an organized securities exchange:
   over-the-counter stocks.
2. Drugs sold legally without a prescription:
   over-the-counter drugs.

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

count•er¹ /ˈkaʊntɚ/   n. [countable]

1. a table or surface on which goods can be shown, etc.:
   Bring your goods to the checkout counter.
2. (in restaurants, etc.) a long, narrow table with stools for the customers, behind which meals are prepared and served:
   The waitress tossed our food down on the counter.
3. a long, flat surface for the preparation of food in a kitchen:
   Just put the dishes on the counter for now.
4. Games anything used to keep account, esp. a disk or other small object used in a game, as checkers.

Idioms

5. Idioms, Business over the counter, [uncountable]
   • (of the sale of stock) through a broker's office rather than through the stock exchange.
   • (of the sale of medicinal drugs) without requiring a prescription:
     You can buy that drug over the counter in any shop.
6. Idioms, Business under the counter, [uncountable] illegally:
   If we buy the tickets under the counter using dollars, we'll get a much better price and exchange rate.

count•er² /ˈkaʊntɚ/   n. [countable]

1. a person or thing that counts.
2. Physics an instrument for detecting and registering radiation.

coun•ter³ /ˈkaʊntɚ/   adv. 

1. in the reverse direction;
   contrary:
   [~ + to + object] This ran counter to what we expected.

adj. [be + ~ + to + object]

2. opposite;
   opposed;
   contrary:
   The attack was counter to our expectations.

n. [countable]

3. something opposite or contrary to something else, such as a statement or action made to oppose another:
   He made a quick counter to the guard's remark about ignorant tourists.

v. [~ + object]

4. to oppose, esp. so as to weaken:
   I countered her arguments by pointing out the advantages of my plan.

counter-, [prefix.]

1. counter- has the meaning "against, counter to, opposed to.'' This meaning is found in such words as: counterattack, counterclockwise.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

count•er¹  (koun′tər), n. 

1. a table or display case on which goods can be shown, business transacted, etc.
2. (in restaurants, luncheonettes, etc.) a long, narrow table with stools or chairs along one side for the patrons, behind which refreshments or meals are prepared and served.
3. a surface for the preparation of food in a kitchen, esp. on a low cabinet.
4. Games anything used in keeping account, as a disk of metal or wood, used in some games, as checkers, for marking a player's position or for keeping score.
5. an imitation coin or token.
6. a coin;
   money.
7. Business over the counter:
   • (of the sale of stock) through a broker's office rather than through the stock exchange.
   • (of the sale of merchandise) through a retail store rather than through a wholesaler.
8. Idioms, Business under the counter, in a clandestine manner, esp. illegally:
   books sold under the counter.

• Medieval Latin computātorium place for computing, equivalent. to Latin computā(re) to compute + -tōrium -tory²; compare count¹
• Anglo-French (Old French comptoir)
• Middle English countour 1300–50

count•er²  (koun′tər), n. 

1. a person who counts.
2. a device for counting revolutions of a wheel, items produced, etc.
3. Games [Cards.] See card counter. 
4. Computing a storage register or program variable used to tally how often something of interest occurs.
5. Electronics scaler (def. 2).
6. [Physics.] any of various instruments for detecting ionizing radiation and for registering counts. Cf. Geiger counter.

• Anglo-French (Old French conteor) Latin computātor, equivalent. to computā(re) to compute + -tor -tor
• Middle English countour 1325–75

coun•ter³  (koun′tər), adv. 

1. in the wrong way;
   contrary to the right course;
   in the reverse or opposite direction.
2. contrary;
   in opposition (usually prec. by run or go):
   to run counter to the rules.

adj. 

3. opposite;
   opposed;
   contrary.

n. 

4. something that is opposite or contrary to something else.
5. a blow delivered in receiving or parrying another blow, as in boxing.
6. a statement or action made to refute, oppose, or nullify another statement or action.
7. Sport [Fencing.] a circular parry.
8. Clothing a piece of leather or other material inserted between the lining and outside leather of a shoe or boot quarter to keep it stiff.
9. Nautical, Naval Terms the part of a stern that overhangs and projects aft of the sternpost of a vessel.
10. Printing Also called void. [Typesetting.] any part of the face of a type that is less than type-high and is therefore not inked.
11. Building, Civil Engineering [Engin., Building Trades.] a truss member subject to stress only under certain partial loadings of the truss.
12. Zoology the part of a horse's breast that lies between the shoulders and under the neck.

v.t. 

13. to go counter to;
    oppose;
    controvert.
14. to meet or answer (a move, blow, etc.) by another in return.

v.i. 

15. to make a counter or opposing move.
16. to give a blow while receiving or parrying one, as in boxing.

• Latin contrā against. See counter-
• Anglo-French co(u)ntre, cuntre, Old French contre
• late Middle English countre 1400–50

coun•ter⁴  (koun′tər), v.t. 

1. to encounter in opposition or combat.

• Middle French acontrer. See a-⁵, encounter
• Middle English countren, aphetic variant of acountren 1250–1300

counter-, 

1. a combining form of counter³, used with the meanings "against,'' "contrary,'' "opposite,'' "in opposition or response to'' (countermand);
   "complementary,'' "in reciprocation,'' "corresponding,'' "parallel'' (counterfoil;
   counterbalance);
   "substitute,'' "duplicate'' (counterfeit).

• see counter³ Middle English countre-

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

over-the-counter adjective

1. (of securities) not listed or quoted on a stock exchange
2. (of a security market) dealing in such securities
3. (of security transactions) conducted through a broker's office directly between purchaser and seller and not on a stock exchange
4. (of medicinal drugs) able to be sold without a prescription
   Abbreviation: OTC
   Compare POM

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

counter / ˈkaʊntə/ noun

1. a horizontal surface, as in a shop or bank, over which business is transacted
2. (in some cafeterias) a long table on which food is served to customers
3. a small flat disc of wood, metal, or plastic, used in various board games
4. a similar disc or token used as an imitation coin
5. a person or thing that may be used or manipulated
6. a skating figure consisting of three circles
7. under the counter ⇒ (under-the-counter when prenominal) (of the sale of goods, esp goods in short supply) clandestine, surreptitious, or illegal; not in an open manner
8. over the counter ⇒ (over-the-counter when prenominal) (of security transactions) through a broker rather than on a stock exchange

Etymology: 14th Century: from Old French comptouer, ultimately from Latin computāre to compute

counter / ˈkaʊntə/ adverb

1. in a contrary direction or manner
2. in a wrong or reverse direction
3. run counter to ⇒ to have a contrary effect or action to

adjective

1. opposing; opposite; contrary

noun

1. something that is contrary or opposite to some other thing
2. an act, effect, or force that opposes another
3. a return attack, such as a blow in boxing
4. a parry in which the foils move in a circular fashion
5. the portion of the stern of a boat or ship that overhangs the water aft of the rudder
6. a piece of leather forming the back of a shoe

verb

1. to say or do (something) in retaliation or response
2. (transitive) to move, act, or perform in a manner or direction opposite to (a person or thing)
3. to return the attack of (an opponent)

Etymology: 15th Century: from Old French contre, from Latin contrā against

counter / ˈkaʊntə/ noun

1. a person who counts
2. an apparatus that records the number of occurrences of events
3. any instrument for detecting or counting ionizing particles or photons
   See Geiger counter, scintillation counter

Etymology: 14th Century: from Old French conteor, from Latin computātor; see count¹