retort Definition

retort
verb retorted, retorting

intr
1. To make a quick and clever or angry reply.

Thesaurus: answer, reply, respond, return, rejoin, counter, retaliate.
2. To turn (an argument, criticism, blame, etc) back on the person who first used that argument, criticism, blame, etc.
3. metallurgy.
To heat and purify (metal) in a retort.

noun

1. A quick and clever or angry reply.

Thesaurus: answer, reply, rejoinder, response, quip, comeback, repartee, riposte.
2. An argument, criticism, blame, etc which is turned back upon the originator.
3. A glass vessel with a long neck which curves downwards, used in distilling.
4. metallurgy.
A vessel for heating metals such as iron and carbon to make steel, or for heating coal to produce gas.

Derivative: retortion
noun

Etymology: 16c: from Latin retorquere to twist back, from torquere to wrench or twist.