Retort — Defs

01 v. t. To bend or curve back; as, a retorted line.

imp. & p. p. Retorted; p. pr. & vb. n. Retorting

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.

02 v. i. To return an argument or a charge; to make a severe reply.

1.
To return an argument or a charge; to make a severe reply.

03 n. The return of, or reply to, an argument, charge, censure, incivility, taunt, or witticism; a quick and witty or severe response.

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.
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.(Chem. & the Arts)

Phrases & compounds

Tubulated retort — a retort having a tubulure for the introduction or removal of the substances which are to be acted upon.

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.