* Noun: This is the most common usage. It refers to a surface for displaying goods or serving customers.
* Noun: It can also refer to a person who counts, or a device used for counting.
* Verb: It can be used to mean "to oppose or argue against something."
* Adjective: It can describe something that acts as a counter or opposes something else.
Examples:
* Noun: "The store's counter was filled with delicious pastries."
* Noun: "The counter at the bank was very busy."
* Verb: "The lawyer countered the witness's claims."
* Adjective: "The counter argument was persuasive."
To determine the part of speech, you need to look at the context in which the word is used.