COUNTERCLOCKWISE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does counterclockwise mean? 

• COUNTERCLOCKWISE (adjective)
  The adjective COUNTERCLOCKWISE has 1 sense:

1. in the direction opposite to the rotation of the hands of a clock

  Familiarity information: COUNTERCLOCKWISE used as an adjective is very rare.

• COUNTERCLOCKWISE (adverb)
  The adverb COUNTERCLOCKWISE has 1 sense:

1. in a direction opposite to the direction in which the hands of a clock move

  Familiarity information: COUNTERCLOCKWISE used as an adverb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• COUNTERCLOCKWISE (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

In the direction opposite to the rotation of the hands of a clock

Synonyms:

anticlockwise; contraclockwise; counterclockwise

Similar:

left-handed; levorotary; levorotatory (rotating to the left)

Also:

sinistral (of or on the left)

Antonym:

clockwise (in the same direction as the rotating hands of a clock)

• COUNTERCLOCKWISE (adverb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

In a direction opposite to the direction in which the hands of a clock move

Synonyms:

anticlockwise; counterclockwise

Context example:

please move counterclockwise in a circle!

Antonym:

clockwise (in the direction that the hands of a clock move)

Pertainym:

counterclockwise (in the direction opposite to the rotation of the hands of a clock)

 Context examples 

The ability of an optically active substance to rotate the plane of polarized light counterclockwise (to the left).

(Levorotatory, NCI Thesaurus)

Chirality axis based stereochemistry where, using the Cahn-Ingold-Prelog (CIP) priority rules, the priorities (from highest to lowest) of the substituent atoms exist in a counterclockwise direction.

(Axial S, NCI Thesaurus)

The ability of a chiral substance to rotate the plane of polarization of a beam of transmitted plane-polarized light, either clockwise (to the right) or counterclockwise (to the left).

(Optical Rotation, NCI Thesaurus)

Jupiter's Great Red Spot is a giant oval of crimson-colored clouds in Jupiter's southern hemisphere that race counterclockwise around the oval's perimeter with wind speeds greater than any storm on Earth.

(NASA's Juno Probes the Depths of Jupiter's Great Red Spot, NASA)