counterpart

Pluralcounterparts

Formscounterparts, counterparting, counterparted

1. 1
   nouncountable

   A person or thing whose functions or characteristics correspond to those of another.

   The defense secretary held lengthy talks with his Russian counterpart.

   Many of our engineers collaborate closely with their counterparts overseas.

   Similarequivalent, peer

   Note

   The sense of rank and role: your counterpart holds the same position on the other side, whether in another country, company or team. It typically takes a possessive and a place word: her French counterpart, his England counterpart, their respective counterparts in Asia. Unlike the 'resemblance' meaning, it says nothing about looking alike. Two counterparts here match in function, however different they are otherwise.

2. 2
   nouncountable

   A person or thing that resembles or closely matches another.

   The painting is a faithful counterpart of the scene outside the window.

   The two novels are counterparts, each telling the same story from a different side.

   Similarlikeness, equivalent, twin, parallel, match

3. 3
   nouncountable

   One of a pair of parts that fit or complement each other.

   A nut is the natural counterpart of a bolt.

   The two halves of the locket are counterparts that snap neatly together.

   Similarcomplement, match, mate

4. 4
   nouncountable

   An exact duplicate of a legal document.

   Each party retained a signed counterpart of the lease.

   The two counterparts of the deed were stored in separate vaults.

   Similarduplicate, copy

   Note

   The oldest sense of the word: Middle English conterpart already meant a duplicate of a legal document. It was built from counter- and part, with Old French contre, 'facing, opposite', behind the prefix. When deeds and contracts are executed, each party separately signs its own counterpart, and the signed copies together form a single binding instrument rather than an original and its copies.

5. 5
   nouncountable

   Either of the two halves of a flattened fossil exposed when the rock splits along the fossil's plane.

   The collector found the fish fossil's counterpart in the adjoining slab.

   Splitting the shale revealed two counterparts, each holding half the imprint.

   Note

   Paleontologists name the two faces of a split slab as a pair. The part keeps the fossil itself, and the counterpart carries its complementary mirror-image impression. The term fits because the halves meet like two interlocking pieces. In careful technical writing, 'part and counterpart' tells a reader which slab holds the specimen and which holds its imprint.

6. 6
   verbtransitive

   To act as a balancing force against something; to counterbalance.

   Two large weights counterpart the crane's extended arm.

   A wide foundation counterparts the upward thrust of the arches.

   Similarcounterbalance, balance, offset, counteract

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