Adjacent Words

Retort definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

RETORT', v.t. [L. retortus, retorqueo; re and torqueo, to throw.]
1. To throw back; to reverberate.
And they retort that beat again to the first giver.
2. To return an argument, accusation, censure or incivility; as, to retort the charge of vanity.
He pass'd through hostile scorn; and with retorted scorn, his back he turn'd.
3. To bend or curve back; as a retorted line.
RETORT', v.i. To return an argument or charge; to make a severe reply. He retorted upon his adversary with severity.
RETORT', n.
1. The return of an argument, charge or incivility in reply; as the retort courteous.
2. In chimistry, a spherical vessel with its neck bent, to which the receiver is fitted; used in distillation.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a quick reply to a question or remark (especially a witty or critical one); "it brought a sharp rejoinder from the teacher" [syn: rejoinder, retort, return, riposte, replication, comeback, counter]
2: a vessel where substances are distilled or decomposed by heat v
1: answer back [syn: retort, come back, repay, return, riposte, rejoin]

Merriam Webster's

I. verb Etymology: Latin retortus, past participle of retorqu?re, literally, to twist back, hurl back, from re- + torqu?re to twist — more at torture Date: circa 1557 transitive verb 1. to pay or hurl back ; return <retort an insult> 2. a. to make a reply to b. to say in reply 3. to answer (as an argument) by a counter argument intransitive verb 1. to answer back usually sharply 2. to return an argument or charge 3. retaliate II. noun Date: 1600 a quick, witty, or cutting reply; especially one that turns back or counters the first speaker's words Synonyms: see answer III. noun Etymology: Middle French retorte, from Medieval Latin retorta, from Latin, feminine of retortus; from its shape Date: 1605 a vessel or chamber in which substances are distilled or decomposed by heat IV. transitive verb Date: 1850 to treat (as oil shale) by heating in a retort

Oxford Reference Dictionary

1. n. & v. --n. 1 an incisive or witty or angry reply. 2 the turning of a charge or argument against its originator. 3 a piece of retaliation. --v. 1 a tr. say by way of a retort. b intr. make a retort. 2 tr. repay (an insult or attack) in kind. 3 tr. (often foll. by on, upon) return (mischief, a charge, sarcasm, etc.) to its originator. 4 tr. (often foll. by against) make (an argument) tell against its user. 5 tr. (as retorted adj.) recurved; twisted or bent backwards. Etymology: L retorquere retort- (as RE-, torquere twist) 2. n. & v. --n. 1 a vessel usu. of glass with a long recurved neck used in distilling liquids. 2 a vessel for heating mercury for purification, coal to generate gas, or iron and carbon to make steel. --v.tr. purify (mercury) by heating in a retort. Etymology: F retorte f. med.L retorta fem. past part. of retorquere: see RETORT(1)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Retort Re*tort", v. i. To return an argument or a charge; to make a severe reply. --Pope.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

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. 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.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

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

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Tubulated Tu"bu*la`ted, a. Made in the form of a small tube; provided with a tube, or elongated opening. Tubulated bottle or retort (Chem.), a bottle or retort having a stoppered opening for the introduction or removal of materials.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(retorts, retorting, retorted) To retort means to reply angrily to someone. (WRITTEN) Was he afraid, he was asked. 'Afraid of what?' he retorted... Others retort that strong central power is a dangerous thing in Russia. VERB: V with quote, V that • Retort is also a noun. His sharp retort clearly made an impact. N-COUNT

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

n. Repartee, smart or witty reply.

Moby Thesaurus

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