retort

re·tort ¹  (r-tôrt)

v. re·tort·ed, re·tort·ing, re·torts

v.tr.

1.

a. To reply, especially to answer in a quick, caustic, or witty manner. See Synonyms at answer.

b. To present a counterargument to.

2. To return in kind; pay back.

v.intr.

1. To make a reply, especially a quick, caustic, or witty one.

2. To present a counterargument.

3. To return like for like; retaliate.

n.

1. A quick incisive reply, especially one that turns the first speaker's words to his or her own disadvantage.

2. The act or an instance of retorting.

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[Latin retorqure, retort-, to bend back, retort : re-, re- + torqure, to bend, twist; see terk^w- in Indo-European roots.]

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re·torter n.

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re·tort ²  (r-tôrt, rtôrt)

n.

A closed laboratory vessel with an outlet tube, used for distillation, sublimation, or decomposition by heat.

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[French retorte, from Medieval Latin retorta, from feminine of Latin retortus, past participle of retorqure, to bend back; see retort¹.]

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retort¹

vb

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)

n

1. a sharp, angry, or witty reply

2. an argument used against its originator

[from Latin retorquēre to twist back, from re- + torquēre to twist, wrench]

retorter  n

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retort²

n

1. (Chemistry) a glass vessel with a round bulb and long tapering neck that is bent down, used esp in a laboratory for distillation

2. (Chemistry) 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

vb

(Chemistry) (tr) to heat in a retort

[from French retorte, from Medieval Latin retorta, from Latin retorquēre to twist back; see retort¹]

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retort  (r-tôrt, r-)

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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Retort 

(See also EXCLAMATIONS.)

Dick Tracy A mildly sarcastic retort to one who makes an obvious observation as if from penetrating insight. This expression derives from the popular comic strip Dick Tracy which features a detective of that name. Dick Tracy is analogous to such rhetorical comments as “Is the Pope Catholic?” and “No kidding, you don’t say.”

the Dutch have taken Holland An obvious statement, this expression is used sarcastically to put down someone who tells a piece of stale news as though it were new and exciting. If my aunt had been a man she’d have been my uncleis a similar British retort to someone who has laboriously explained the obvious.

Queen Anne is dead A sarcastic remark made to the bearer of stale news. A similar, current American phrase is So what else is new? Anne was Queen of Great Britain and Ireland from 1702-14. The expression dates from the 18th century.

touché Literally French for ‘touched,’ touché is a fencing term indicating a hit or score. In verbal fencing or argumentation the parry touché acknowledges accuracy and truth in an opponent’s remark or retort.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	retort - a quick reply to a question or remark (especially a witty or critical one); "it brought a sharp rejoinder from the teacher" comeback, rejoinder, riposte, replication, counter, return back talk, backtalk, sass, sassing, lip, mouth - an impudent or insolent rejoinder; "don't give me any of your sass" reply, response - the speech act of continuing a conversational exchange; "he growled his reply"
	2.	retort - a vessel where substances are distilled or decomposed by heat alembic - an obsolete kind of container used for distillation; two retorts connected by a tube 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 vessel - an object used as a container (especially for liquids)
Verb	1.	retort - answer back rejoin, riposte, come back, repay, return answer, reply, respond - react verbally; "She didn't want to answer"; "answer the question"; "We answered that we would accept the invitation"

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retort

verb

reply, return, answer, respond, counter, rejoin, retaliate, come back with, riposte, answer back 'Who do you think you're talking to?' she retorted.

noun

reply, return, answer, response, counter (informal), comeback, riposte, rejoinder His sharp retort made an impact.

Translations

retort [rɪˈtɔːt]

A. N

1. (= answer) → réplica f

2. (Chem) → retorta f

B. VT → replicar
he retorted that → replicó que ...

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retort [rɪˈtɔː^rt]

n

(= reply) → répartie f

(= container) → cornue f

vi → riposter

vt → rétorquer

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retort

n

(= answer) → scharfe Erwiderung or Antwort

(Chem) → Retorte f; retort stand → Retortenhalter m → or -stand m

vt → scharf erwidern, zurückgeben

vi → scharf erwidern

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retort [rɪˈtɔːt]

1. n

a. (answer) → risposta (per le rime)

b. (Chem) → storta

2. vt (answer) → ribattere

3. vi → rimbeccare, rispondere per le rime

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retort

v retort [rəˈtoːt]

to make a quick and clever or angry reply You're too old', she said. `You're not so young yourself,' he retorted. antwoord يَرُدُّ جوابا غاضِبا سريعا وذَكِيّاً отговарям остроумно odseknout svare igen erwidern ανταπαντώ replicar vastu sähvama جواب دندان شکن دادن tiuskaista répliquer לְהָשִיב בְּחַרִיפות प्रत्युत्तर देना odvratiti visszavág menangkis hreyta út úr sér; svara um hæl replicare, ribattere 言い返す 되받아치다, 응수하다 atkirsti asi atbildēt; atcirst menempelak terugkaatsen svare igjen, gi svar på tiltale odcinać się, ripostować replicar a replica; a riposta парировать odseknúť odvrniti odbrusiti svara, replikera โต้ตอบ; สวนตอบ; พูดย้อน tersleyerek cevap vermek 反駁 парирувати الٹ کر جواب دینا trả miếng 反驳

n

such a reply. gevatte antwoord جَواب غاضِب سَريع وَذَكي остроумен отговор odseknutí gensvar die Erwiderung ανταπάντηση réplica väle vastulause پیش جوابی tiuskaisu réplique, riposte תְּשוּבָה חַרִיפָה प्रत्युत्तर replika, oštar odgovor visszavágás tangkisan hvasst svar replica 口答え 반박 atkirtimas asa atbilde tempelak repliek svar på tiltale, skarpt svar riposta réplica replică; ripostă резкий ответ odseknutie (oster) odgovor oštar odgovor svar [] คำตอบ sert cevap 反駁 різка відповідь فوری جواب sự trả miếng 反驳