retort
retort¹
Definition
re·tort (ri tôrt′)
transitive verb
- to turn (an insult, epithet, deed, etc.) back upon the person from whom it came
- to answer (an argument, etc.) in kind
- to say in reply or response
Etymology: < L retortus, pp. of retorquere, to twist back < re-, back + torquere, to twist: see tort
intransitive verb
to reply, esp. in a sharp, quick, or witty way, or in kind
noun
- a quick, sharp, or witty reply, esp. one that turns the words of the previous speaker back upon that speaker
- the act or practice of making such reply
retort²
Definition
re·tort (ri tôrt′)
noun
- a container, generally of glass and with a long tube, in which substances are distilled, as in a laboratory
- a vessel in which ore is heated to extract a metal, coal is heated to produce gas, etc.
Etymology: Fr retorte < ML retorta < L, fem. of retortus: see retort
retort
Synonyms
retort
Synonyms
retort
Usage Examples
Object
- man: Mrs Vic was not reticent, she seemed to feel unconcerned " , retorted the man of the " Church " .
Converse of object
- come: Very dry and well written humor that you can easily relate to, ' comes the retort in another.
- make: Indeed some of the retorts made by government officials whenever this topic is brokered appear to be purely a tactic of obfuscation!
- have: To which I 'd retort in good old swashbuckling style: " It's Phillip's choice.
- offer: I can only offer the cliche retort: " I don't know why I did it - I just did it.
- do: Don't ask Allah's Apostle too many things, and don't retort upon him in any case, and don't desert him.
- crush: In racking his brains for a suitably crushing retort, he will probably forget what he is doing.
Adjective modifier
- witty: What can be a witty retort can be hurtful.
- sharp: The winner of this year's competition is a sharp retort to the question Do we need nature?
- obvious: One obvious retort is a steady diet of hard drugs.
- angry: Does A answer B's veiled insult with an angry retort or a gracious change of subject?
- good: One of the best retorts I saw was from Mike Reid a few years ago.
- loud: The recording picked up some loud retorts, which sound like gunfire or explosions.
Modifies a noun
- stand: Then pour the mixture into the barrel of a syringe, held in a retort stand, pointing downwards into a small beaker.
- house: The retort house can be found on your right hand side, identified by our FOR SALE board.
Modifying Another Word
- quickly: Mama Ike quickly retorted " we are in mourning no-one has had time to cook.
- angrily: He glares at me and angrily retorts, 'Don't gimme that crap, whit kinda life is it fur them?
Noun used with modifier
Browse dictionary entries near retort
- retorsion
- retool
- retook
- retiring
- retirement
- retiree
- retired
- retire
- retinue
- retinoscopy
- retortion
- retouch
- retrace
- retract
- retractile
- retraction
- retractor
- retral
- retread
- retreading
