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Figure vs Counter - What's the difference?

figure | counter |

As adjectives the difference between figure and counter

is that figure is figurative while counter is contrary; opposite; contrasted; opposed; adverse; antagonistic.

As verbs the difference between figure and counter

is that figure is while counter is to contradict, oppose.

As a noun counter is

an object (now especially a small disc) used in counting or keeping count, or as a marker in games, etc or counter can be (nautical) the overhanging stern of a vessel above the waterline or counter can be (obsolete) an encounter.

As an adverb counter is

contrary, in opposition; in an opposite direction or counter can be in opposition; in an opposite direction; contrariwise.

figure

English

(wikipedia figure)

Noun

(en noun)
  • A drawing or diagram conveying information.
  • *
  • The representation of any form, as by drawing, painting, modelling, carving, embroidering, etc.; especially, a representation of the human body.
  • a figure''' in bronze; a '''figure cut in marble
  • * Shakespeare
  • a coin that bears the figure of an angel
  • A person or thing representing a certain consciousness.
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-06-28, author=(Joris Luyendijk)
  • , volume=189, issue=3, page=21, magazine=(The Guardian Weekly) , title= Our banks are out of control , passage=Seeing the British establishment struggle with the financial sector is like watching an alcoholic […].  Until 2008 there was denial over what finance had become. When a series of bank failures made this impossible, there was widespread anger, leading to the public humiliation of symbolic figures .}}
  • The appearance or impression made by the conduct or career of a person.
  • He cut a sorry figure standing there in the rain.
  • * Dryden
  • I made some figure there.
  • * Blackstone
  • gentlemen of the best figure in the county
  • (obsolete) Distinguished appearance; magnificence; conspicuous representation; splendour; show.
  • * Law
  • that he may live in figure and indulgence
  • A human figure, which dress or corset must fit to; the shape of a human body.
  • *
  • A numeral.
  • A number.
  • *
  • A shape.
  • * Francis Bacon
  • Flowers have all exquisite figures .
  • *
  • A visible pattern as in wood or cloth.
  • The muslin was of a pretty figure .
  • A dance figure, a complex dance move(w).
  • *
  • , title=(The Celebrity), chapter=5 , passage=Although the Celebrity was almost impervious to sarcasm, he was now beginning to exhibit visible signs of uneasiness,
  • A figure of speech.
  • * Macaulay
  • to represent the imagination under the figure of a wing
  • (logic) The form of a syllogism with respect to the relative position of the middle term.
  • (astrology) A horoscope; the diagram of the aspects of the astrological houses.
  • (Johnson)
  • (music) Any short succession of notes, either as melody or as a group of chords, which produce a single complete and distinct impression.
  • (Grove)
  • (music) A form of melody or accompaniment kept up through a strain or passage; a motif; a florid embellishment.
  • Derived terms

    (Terms derived from the noun) * academy figure * action figure * authority figure * big figure * dark figure * cut a figure * father figure * figure dash * figure eight * figurehead * figureless * figure loom * figure of eight * figure of merit * figure of speech * figure poem * figure skating * four-figure * hate figure * hourglass figure * lay figure * Lissajous figure * mother figure * musical figure * plane figure * public figure * significant figure * snow figure * stick figure * terminal figure * text figure * three-figure * two-figure

    Verb

    (mainly US)
  • To solve a mathematical problem.
  • To come to understand.
  • I can't figure if he's telling the truth or lying.
  • To be reasonable.
  • To enter, be a part of.
  • (obsolete) To represent by a figure, as to form or mould; to make an image of, either palpable or ideal; also, to fashion into a determinate form; to shape.
  • * Prior
  • If love, alas! be pain I bear, / No thought can figure , and no tongue declare.
  • To embellish with design; to adorn with figures.
  • * Shakespeare
  • The vaulty top of heaven / Figured quite o'er with burning meteors.
  • (obsolete) To indicate by numerals.
  • * Dryden
  • As through a crystal glass the figured hours are seen.
  • To represent by a metaphor; to signify or symbolize.
  • * Shakespeare
  • whose white vestments figure innocence
  • (obsolete) To prefigure; to foreshow.
  • * Shakespeare
  • In this the heaven figures some event.
  • (music) To write over or under the bass, as figures or other characters, in order to indicate the accompanying chords.
  • (music) To embellish.
  • Derived terms

    * go figure * prefigure * figure out (US)

    Statistics

    *

    counter

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) (m), from (etyl) (m) (French (m)), from .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An object (now especially a small disc) used in counting or keeping count, or as a marker in games, etc.
  • * He rolled a six on the dice, so moved his counter forward six spaces.
  • (curling) Any stone lying closer to the center than any of the opponent's stones.
  • A table or board on which money is counted and over which business is transacted; a shop tabletop on which goods are examined, weighed or measured.
  • * He put his money on the counter , and the shopkeeper put it in the till.
  • One who counts, or reckons up; a reckoner.
  • * He's only 16 months, but is already a good counter - he can count to 100.
  • A telltale; a contrivance attached to an engine, printing press, or other machine, for the purpose of counting the revolutions or the pulsations.
  • (historical) The prison attached to a city court; a Counter.
  • (grammar) A class of word used along with numbers to count objects and events, typically mass nouns. Although rare and optional in English (e.g. "20 head of cattle"), they are numerous and required in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean.
  • In a kitchen, a surface, often built into the wall and above a cabinet, whereon various food preparations take place.
  • (wrestling) A proactive defensive hold or move in reaction to a hold or move by one's opponent.
  • * Always know a counter to any hold you try against your opponent.
  • (computing, programming) A variable, memory location, etc. whose contents are incremented to keep a count.
  • (computing, Internet) A hit counter.
  • Derived terms
    * bean counter * counter batten * countertop * hit counter * over the counter * program counter * rivet counter

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) contre, (etyl) cuntre, both from (etyl) contra.

    Adverb

    (-)
  • Contrary, in opposition; in an opposite direction.
  • * Running counter to all the rules of virtue. -Locks .
  • Noun

    (en noun)
  • (nautical) The overhanging stern of a vessel above the waterline.
  • (by extension) The piece of a shoe or a boot around the heel of the foot (above the heel of the shoe/boot).
  • * 1959 , , Seymour: An Introduction :
  • Seymour, sitting in an old corduroy armchair across the room, a cigarette going, wearing a blue shirt, gray slacks, moccasins with the counters broken down, a shaving cut on the side of his face [...].

    Etymology 3

    From counter- .

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To contradict, oppose.
  • (boxing) To return a blow while receiving one, as in boxing.
  • * His left hand countered provokingly. - C. Kingsley
  • To take action in response to; to respond.
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2012-12-14
  • , author=Simon Jenkins, authorlink=Simon Jenkins , title=We mustn't overreact to North Korea boys' toys , volume=188, issue=2, page=23 , date=2012-12-21 , magazine= citation , passage=David Cameron insists that his latest communications data bill is “vital to counter terrorism”. Yet terror is mayhem. It is no threat to freedom. That threat is from counter-terror, from ministers capitulating to securocrats.}}

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Contrary; opposite; contrasted; opposed; adverse; antagonistic.
  • His carrying a knife was counter to my plan.
  • * I. Taylor
  • Innumerable facts attesting the counter principle.
    Derived terms
    * counter agent * counter fugue * counter current * counter revolution * counter poison : See also:

    Adverb

    (-)
  • In opposition; in an opposite direction; contrariwise.
  • * John Locke
  • running counter to all the rules of virtue
  • In the wrong way; contrary to the right course.
  • a hound that runs counter
  • * Shakespeare
  • This is counter , you false Danish dogs!
  • At or against the front or face.
  • * Sandys
  • which [darts] they never throw counter , but at the back of the flier

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (obsolete) An encounter.
  • * Spenser
  • with kindly counter under mimic shade
  • (nautical) The after part of a vessel's body, from the water line to the stern, below and somewhat forward of the stern proper.
  • (music) Formerly used to designate any under part which served for contrast to a principal part, but now used as equivalent to countertenor.
  • The breast, or that part of a horse between the shoulders and under the neck.
  • The back leather or heel part of a boot.
  • Anagrams

    * ----