0 Drugs that are bought over the counter are bought in a shop without first visiting a doctor:
1 If a drug, gun, etc. is available over the counter, you can buy it in a shop without having to visit a doctor or person in authority first:
2 An over-the-counter drug is bought from a shop without the person who buys it having visited a doctor first:
an over-the-counter medicine
3 used to describe shares that are traded directly between dealers (= people and organizations that buy and sell for others), rather than on a stock market:
4 (of drugs) legally sold without a prescription (= special written instruction from a doctor):
The painkiller is available as an over-the-counter drug.
5 used to describe shares that are bought and sold directly using a computer system, rather than on a stock market:
6 available to buy from a store without a prescription (= written instruction from a doctor):
Permethrin and pyrethrin are considered relatively safe and are available over the counter.
There are hormonal and complex proteins sold over the counter as nutritional supplements.
Hunting permits are available over the counter and cost $15 each.
Claritin, which typically costs $85 a month if purchased directly at a pharmacy in the United States, is already available over the counter in Canada and some other countries.
Although the archery season permits for elk can be purchased over the counter for the region, rifle permits are obtained only in annual drawings.
For example, widespread over-the-counter availability in many countries of nutritional supplements makes evaluation exceedingly difficult.
Direct non-healthcare costs included costs of paid and unpaid help, purchased aids, and over-the-counter medications.
