retort

¹ American  

[ri-tawrt] / rɪˈtɔrt /

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.

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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 ² American  

[ri-tawrt] / rɪˈtɔrt /

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.

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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 ¹ British  

/ 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

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verb

1. (tr) to heat in a retort

retort ² British  

/ 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)

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noun

1. a sharp, angry, or witty reply

2. an argument used against its originator

retort Scientific  

/ rĭ-tôrt′,rē′- /

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.

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Related Words

See answer.

Other Word Forms

• retorter noun

Etymology

Origin of retort¹

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

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”

Example Sentences

Do that and we won’t write a snarky retort but a glowing letter of support instead.

From The Wall Street Journal

Told baldness is generally seen as an aesthetic problem covered out-of-pocket, Lee retorted that young people with thinning hair view their plight as a “matter of survival.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Having been criticized by Cronin for folding when things get tough, the Bruins offered a strong retort in the first half on the way to taking a 36-32 lead by the game’s midpoint.

From Los Angeles Times

Carpenter’s response to her song being used without her consent was met with a trolling retort from the DHS.

From Los Angeles Times

“Well, you sound pretty unhappy yourself, miss,” he retorted, and went on with his ringing.

From Literature

Related Words

• quip
• rejoinder
• repartee