retort

¹

[ri-tawrt]

verb (used with object)

1. to reply to, usually in a sharp or retaliatory way; reply in kind to.

   Synonyms: retaliate

2. to return (an accusation, epithet, etc.) upon the person uttering it.

3. to answer (an argument or the like) by another to the contrary.

noun

1. a severe, incisive, or witty reply, especially one that counters a first speaker's statement, argument, etc.

   Synonyms: response, rejoinder, riposte

2. the act of retorting.

retort

²

[ri-tawrt]

noun

1. Chemistry.

   1. a vessel, commonly a glass bulb with a long neck bent downward, used for distilling or decomposing substances by heat.

   2. a refractory chamber, generally cylindrically shaped, within which some substance, as ore or coal, is heated as part of a smelting or manufacturing process.

   3. an airtight, usually cylindrical vessel of fire clay or iron, used in the destructive distillation chiefly of coal and wood in the manufacture of illuminating gas.

2. a sterilizer for food cans.

verb (used with object)

1. to sterilize food after it is sealed in a container, by steam or other heating methods.

2. Chemistry.,  to subject (shale, ore, etc.) to heat and possibly reduced pressure in order to produce fuel oil, metal, etc.

retort

¹

/ rɪˈtɔːt /

verb

1. (when tr, takes a clause as object) to utter (something) quickly, sharply, wittily, or angrily, in response

2. to use (an argument) against its originator; turn the tables by saying (something)

noun

1. a sharp, angry, or witty reply

2. an argument used against its originator

retort

²

/ rɪˈtɔːt /

noun

1. a glass vessel with a round bulb and long tapering neck that is bent down, used esp in a laboratory for distillation

2. a vessel in which large quantities of material may be heated, esp one used for heating ores in the production of metals or heating coal to produce gas

verb

1. (tr) to heat in a retort

retort

1. A glass laboratory vessel in the shape of a bulb with a long, downward-pointing outlet tube. It is used for distillation or decomposition by heat.

Other Word Forms

• retorter noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of retort¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; from Latin retortus (past participle of retorquēre “to bend back, wrench”), equivalent to re- re- + torquēre “to twist, bend”

Origin of retort²

First recorded in 1520–30; from Middle French retorte, early Modern German retort ( German Retorte ), from Medieval Latin retorta, noun use of feminine of Latin retortus; retort ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of retort¹

C16: from Latin retorquēre to twist back, from _re- + torquēre to twist, wrench

Origin of retort²

C17: from French retorte , from Medieval Latin retorta , from Latin retorquēre to twist back; see _retort ¹

Synonym Study

See answer.

Example Sentences

But Honey’s retort is also how the real-life Cooke shot Coen down the first time her future husband asked her out on a date.

From Los Angeles Times

Hun Sen, a strongman ex-leader who remains influential in Cambodian politics, retorted on his X account.

From BBC

One reason I can confidently assert that she's not as dumb as she acts is she's undeniably swift when barfing up bad faith retorts, usually to innocent questions she's just pretending are "attacks."

From Salon

"Why should it? For doing my job?" she retorts, her heckles immediately raised at any suggestion of a conflict of interest.

From BBC

But to that reductive objection, Belflower has a polite retort: “OK, but look at the history.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• quip 
• rejoinder 
• repartee