'Retort' definitions:
Definition of 'retort'
From: WordNet
Definition of 'Retort'
From: GCIDE
- Retort \Re*tort"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Retorted; p. pr. & vb. n. Retorting.] [L. retortus, p. p. of retorquere; pref. re- re- + torquere to turn twist. See Torsion, and cf. Retort, n., 2.]
- 1. To bend or curve back; as, a retorted line. [1913 Webster]
- With retorted head, pruned themselves as they floated. --Southey. [1913 Webster]
- 2. To throw back; to reverberate; to reflect. [1913 Webster]
- As when his virtues, shining upon others, Heat them and they retort that heat again To the first giver. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
- 3. To return, as an argument, accusation, censure, or incivility; as, to retort the charge of vanity. [1913 Webster]
- And with retorted scorn his back he turned. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'Retort'
From: GCIDE
- Retort \Re*tort"\, v. i. To return an argument or a charge; to make a severe reply. --Pope. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'Retort'
From: GCIDE
- Retort \Re*tort"\, n. [See Retort, v. t.]
- 1. The return of, or reply to, an argument, charge, censure, incivility, taunt, or witticism; a quick and witty or severe response. [1913 Webster]
- This is called the retort courteous. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
- 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. [1913 Webster]
- Tubulated retort (Chem.), a retort having a tubulure for the introduction or removal of the substances which are to be acted upon. [1913 Webster]
- Syn: Repartee; answer.
- Usage: 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. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'retort'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- acknowledge,
- acknowledgment,
- aerosol,
- alembic,
- answer,
- answer back,
- answering,
- antiphon,
- anvil,
- aphorism,
- apothegm,
- atomizer,
- back answer,
- back talk,
- backchat,
- backfire,
- bon mot,
- boomerang,
- boutade,
- bright idea,
- bright thought,
- brilliant idea,
- caldron,
- come back,
- come back at,
- come in,
- comeback,
- conceit,
- counter,
- counterattack,
- counterblast,
- counterblow,
- countercharge,
- counterfire,
- counterinsurgency,
- countermeasure,
- counterrevolution,
- counterstep,
- counterstroke,
- crack,
- crucible,
- defense,
- echo,
- engine,
- epigram,
- evaporator,
- evasive reply,
- exchange,
- facetiae,
- flash back,
- flash of wit,
- flight of wit,
- gag,
- get back at,
- gibe,
- give acknowledgment,
- give and take,
- give answer,
- give in exchange,
- give in return,
- give-and-take,
- happy thought,
- hit back at,
- interchange,
- jape,
- jest,
- joke,
- lathe,
- machine,
- melting pot,
- mortar,
- mot,
- motor,
- nasty crack,
- persiflage,
- play of wit,
- pleasantry,
- quip,
- quips and cranks,
- react,
- reaction,
- ready reply,
- rebut,
- rebuttal,
- receipt,
- reciprocate,
- reciprocation,
- recoil,
- recrimination,
- reecho,
- rejoin,
- rejoinder,
- repartee,
- replication,
- reply,
- repost,
- reprisal,
- rescript,
- rescription,
- respond,
- respondence,
- response,
- responsion,
- responsory,
- retaliate,
- retaliation,
- return,
- return answer,
- return for answer,
- revenge,
- reverberate,
- reverberation,
- riposte,
- sally,
- say,
- say in reply,
- scintillation,
- shoot back,
- short answer,
- smart crack,
- smart saying,
- snappy comeback,
- spray,
- still,
- strike back,
- stroke of wit,
- talk back,
- test tube,
- transducer,
- transformer,
- turn of thought,
- vaporizer,
- wisecrack,
- witticism,
- witty reply,
- witty retort,
- yes-and-no answer