snack counter
- noun
- /snæk ˈkaʊntər/
- The kids were excited to stop at the snack counter for ice cream during their trip.
Examples
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The spoof video shows a volleyball player collapsing to the gym floor to the words "You go to practice and you feel like falling down." Another scene shows kids crowding around the snack counter at a grocery store while the singer mourns, "My friends are at the corner store getting junk so they don't waste away."
Blog text (16) -
After the movie, we grabbed some drinks and chips at the snack counter in the lobby.
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You can find a variety of candies and drinks at the snack counter in the school cafeteria.
Synonyms
A small place that serves coffee, drinks, and light food
A small cafe where people buy coffee and light food
A small place where people buy and eat sandwiches and drinks
A small simple restaurant that serves coffee and sandwiches at a counter
A small café where people buy coffee and light snacks
Antonyms
How Big
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a small bar or serving place for light meals and drinks' follows directly from combining 'snack' (light food) with 'counter' (a serving desk), so a learner who knows both words can infer this purpose. This straightforward noun+noun composition is common cross-linguistically and matches standard English compounding patterns, making it immediately comprehensible to a B1 learner.
Etymology
Snack counter gives a clear picture: a small counter where people buy a quick snack. Because it is literally a tiny place for light food, it means 'a small, inexpensive bar or counter where light meals and drinks are served'.