retort

Noun · Verb
US[ree-tawrt]/ˈriˌtɔrt/2 syllables
Synonyms: rejoinderreturnripostereplicationcomebackcountercome backrepayrejoin

Open English WordNet

Verb (1)retorted, retorting

  1. answer backSynonyms: come backrepayreturnriposterejoinMore general answer, reply

Noun (2)

  1. a quick reply to a question or remark (especially a witty or critical one)“it brought a sharp rejoinder from the teacher”Synonyms: rejoinderreturnripostereplicationcomebackcounterType of reply, responseKinds sass, sassing
  2. a vessel where substances are distilled or decomposed by heatType of vesselKinds alembicPart of still

Related words rejoinder noun, counter verb

Word of the day · Oct 16About this word
bombasticadjective

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Webster's Dictionary (1913)

Re·tort′ transitive verb [past tense & past participle Retorted; present participle & verbal noun Retorting.]

Origin: L. retortus, p. p. of retorquere; pref. re- re- + torquere to turn twist. See Torsion, and cf. Retort, noun, 2.

1. To bend or curve back; as, a retorted line.

With retorted head, pruned themselves as they floated.— Robert Southey

2. To throw back; to reverberate; to reflect.

As when his virtues, shining upon others, Heat them and they retort that heat again To the first giver.— William Shakespeare

3. To return, as an argument, accusation, censure, or incivility; as, to retort the charge of vanity.

And with retorted scorn his back he turned.— John Milton
Re·tort′ intransitive verb

To return an argument or a charge; to make a severe reply. Alexander Pope

Re·tort′ noun

Origin: See Retort, transitive verb

1. The return of, or reply to, an argument, charge, censure, incivility, taunt, or witticism; a quick and witty or severe response.

This is called the retort courteous.— William Shakespeare

2. Chem. & the Arts A vessel in which substances are subjected to distillation or decomposition by heat. It is made of different forms and materials for different uses, as a bulb of glass with a curved beak to enter a receiver for general chemical operations, or a cylinder or semicylinder of cast iron for the manufacture of gas in gas works.

Tubulated retort Chemistry, a retort having a tubulure for the introduction or removal of the substances which are to be acted upon.

Synonyms: Repartee; answer. — Retort, Repartee. A retort is a short and pointed reply, turning back on an assailant the arguments, censure, or derision he had thrown out. A repartee is usually a good-natured return to some witty or sportive remark.

Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54

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