retort Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a quick reply to a question or remark (especially a witty or critical one)
    rejoinder; return; counter; replication; comeback; riposte.
    • it brought a sharp rejoinder from the teacher
  2. noun a vessel where substances are distilled or decomposed by heat
  3. verb answer back
    return; rejoin; repay; riposte; come back.

WordNet

Re*tort" transitive verb
Etymology
L. retortus, p. p. of retorquere; pref. re- re- + torquere to turn twist. See Torsion, and cf. Retort, n., 2.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Retorted; present participle & verbal noun Retorting
Definitions
  1. To bend or curve back; as, a retorted line.
    With retorted head, pruned themselves as they floated. 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. Shak.
  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. Milton.
Re*tort" intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To return an argument or a charge; to make a severe reply. Pope.
Re*tort" noun
Etymology
See Retort, v. t.
Definitions
  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. Shak.
  2. F. retorte (cf. Sp. retorta), fr. L. retortus, p. p. of retorquere. So named from its bent shape. See Retort, v. t. (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. Syn. -- 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 1913