RETORT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does retort mean? 

• RETORT (noun)
  The noun RETORT has 2 senses:

1. a quick reply to a question or remark (especially a witty or critical one)

2. a vessel where substances are distilled or decomposed by heat

  Familiarity information: RETORT used as a noun is rare.

• RETORT (verb)
  The verb RETORT has 1 sense:

1. answer back

  Familiarity information: RETORT used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• RETORT (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A quick reply to a question or remark (especially a witty or critical one)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

comeback; counter; rejoinder; replication; retort; return; riposte

Context example:

it brought a sharp rejoinder from the teacher

Hypernyms ("retort" is a kind of...):

reply; response (the speech act of continuing a conversational exchange)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "retort"):

back talk; backtalk; lip; mouth; sass; sassing (an impudent or insolent rejoinder)

Derivation:

retort (answer back)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A vessel where substances are distilled or decomposed by heat

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("retort" is a kind of...):

vessel (an object used as a container (especially for liquids))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "retort"):

alembic (an obsolete kind of container used for distillation; two retorts connected by a tube)

Holonyms ("retort" is a part of...):

still (an apparatus used for the distillation of liquids; consists of a vessel in which a substance is vaporized by heat and a condenser where the vapor is condensed)

• RETORT (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they retort    ... he / she / it retorts   
Past simple: retorted   
Past participle: retorted   
-ing form: retorting   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Answer back

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

come back; rejoin; repay; retort; return; riposte

Hypernyms (to "retort" is one way to...):

answer; reply; respond (react verbally)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s that CLAUSE

Sentence example:

They retort that there was a traffic accident

Derivation:

retort (a quick reply to a question or remark (especially a witty or critical one))

 Context examples 

“Humph!” retorted Steerforth, looking at the fire.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

He looked at her with burning eyes, and was on the verge of becoming awkward, when a retort came to his lips.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

“I am not afraid,” the sailor retorted, a slight angry flush rising through his sunburn.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

I retorted, roused to something like passion.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

"No, but you tried to," she retorted.

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)

Marianne was going to retort, but she remembered her promises, and forbore.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

"It's a very good one for you," retorted Jo in a low voice.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

"Then I'll break his neck," Scott retorted, continuing his shoving and wedging with the revolver muzzle.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

"He does dot shust to be politeful to Mrs. Nelson," was Dutchy's quick retort.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

“Very sorry to knock you up, Watson,” said he, “but it’s the common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she retorted upon me, and I on you.”

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)