countercurrent
|coun-ter-curr-ent|
🇺🇸
/ˌkaʊntərˈkʌrənt/
🇬🇧
/ˌkaʊntəˈkʌrənt/
flowing against
Etymology
'countercurrent' is an English compound formed from the prefix 'counter-' and the noun 'current'. 'counter-' ultimately derives from Latin 'contra' (via Old French 'contre'), where 'contra' meant 'against'. 'current' derives from Latin 'currere' meaning 'to run' (via Old French 'courant' and Middle English).
'counter-' came into English via Old French 'contre' from Latin 'contra', and 'current' came into English via Old French 'courant' from Latin 'currens' (from 'currere'); these elements were combined in English to form the compound 'counter-current' (often hyphenated) and later the solid form 'countercurrent'.
Initially, the elements literally meant 'against' + 'running'; the compound originally referred to a flow running against another flow, and this basic sense of 'flowing or moving in the opposite direction' has been retained in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a current (of water, air, or other fluid) that flows in the opposite direction to another current; a reverse or opposing flow.
The research team mapped a strong countercurrent beneath the surface that ran opposite to the main current.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Adjective 1
moving or set in the opposite direction to something else; opposing in direction.
In the experiment they observed countercurrent movement of the two fluids in the column.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/08/19 05:00