score:5
That's what you're looking for, yes.
Once upon a time, ticket sales at the airport were more common, so some counters were designated for buying tickets and others for check-in. Now, there may be one counter set aside for purchasing tickets somewhere, but all the others are for check-in. The terminology is vague though: check-in, ticketing, bag drop, etc... all refer to the area where tickets and checked bags are handled.
When you arrive at the airport, the check-in counters are pretty much the first thing you see in the departure area/level. If you're unsure where to go, there's usually lots of airline staff in front of the counters, who can direct you to the correct place. Large airports will usually have signs or TV monitors that list the airlines and the areas where their counters can be found.
Note that some airlines have a separate bag-drop line (located among the check-in counters, they're not usually a separate area) for people who have already checked in online. Using this may result in a faster wait, and you may be able to pick seats sooner (depending on the airline and ticket). If you're not sure though or have problems, don't worry about it.