retort

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle), Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: re=tort

CIDE DICTIONARY

retort, v. t. [L. retortus, p. p. of retorquere; pref. re- re- + torquere to turn twist. See Torsion, and cf. Retort, n., 2.].

•  To bend or curve back; as, a retorted line.  [1913 Webster]

  "With retorted head, pruned themselves as they floated."  [1913 Webster]
•  To throw back; to reverberate; to reflect.  [1913 Webster]

  "As when his virtues, shining upon others,
  Heat them and they retort that heat again
  To the first giver."  [1913 Webster]
•  To return, as an argument, accusation, censure, or incivility; as, to retort the charge of vanity.  [1913 Webster]

  "And with retorted scorn his back he turned."  [1913 Webster]

retort, v. i. 

 To return an argument or a charge; to make a severe reply.  Pope.  [1913 Webster]

retort, n. [See Retort, v. t.].

•  The return of, or reply to, an argument, charge, censure, incivility, taunt, or witticism; a quick and witty or severe response.  [1913 Webster]

  "This is called the retort courteous."  [1913 Webster]
•  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.  [1913 Webster]

Tubulated retort (Chem.), a retort having a tubulure for the introduction or removal of the substances which are to be acted upon.

Syn. -- Repartee; answer.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

retort, n. & v.
--n.
1 an incisive or witty or angry reply.
2 the turning of a charge or argument against its originator.
3 a piece of retaliation.
--v.
1 a tr. say by way of a retort. b intr. make a retort.
2 tr. repay (an insult or attack) in kind.
3 tr. (often foll. by on, upon) return (mischief, a charge, sarcasm, etc.) to its originator.
4 tr. (often foll. by against) make (an argument) tell against its user.
5 tr. (as retorted adj.) recurved; twisted or bent backwards.

retort, n. & v.
--n.
1 a vessel usu. of glass with a long recurved neck used in distilling liquids.
2 a vessel for heating mercury for purification, coal to generate gas, or iron and carbon to make steel.
--v.tr. purify (mercury) by heating in a retort.

Etymology

F retorte f. med.L retorta fem. past part. of retorquere: see RETORT(1)

THESAURUS

retort

acknowledge, acknowledgment, aerosol, alembic, answer, answer back, answering, antiphon, anvil, aphorism, apothegm, atomizer, back answer, back talk, backchat, backfire, bon mot, boomerang, boutade, bright idea, bright thought, brilliant idea, caldron, come back, come back at, come in, comeback, conceit, counter, counterattack, counterblast, counterblow, countercharge, counterfire, counterinsurgency, countermeasure, counterrevolution, counterstep, counterstroke, crack, crucible, defense, echo, engine, epigram, evaporator, evasive reply, exchange, facetiae, flash back, flash of wit, flight of wit, gag, get back at, gibe, give acknowledgment, give and take, give answer, give in exchange, give in return, give-and-take, happy thought, hit back at, interchange, jape, jest, joke, lathe, machine, melting pot, mortar, mot, motor, nasty crack, persiflage, play of wit, pleasantry, quip, quips and cranks, react, reaction, ready reply, rebut, rebuttal, receipt, reciprocate, reciprocation, recoil, recrimination, reecho, rejoin, rejoinder, repartee, replication, reply, repost, reprisal, rescript, rescription, respond, respondence, response, responsion, responsory, retaliate, retaliation, return, return answer, return for answer, revenge, reverberate, reverberation, riposte, sally, say, say in reply, scintillation, shoot back, short answer, smart crack, smart saying, snappy comeback, spray, still, strike back, stroke of wit, talk back, test tube, transducer, transformer, turn of thought, vaporizer, wisecrack, witticism, witty reply, witty retort, yes-and-no answer

ROGET THESAURUS

retort

Retaliation

N retaliation, reprisal, retort, payback, counter- stroke, counter-blast, counterplot, counter-project, retribution, lex talionis, reciprocation, tit for tat, give and take, blow for blow, quid pro quo, a Roland for an Oliver, measure for measure, diamond cut diamond, the biter bit, a game at which two can play, reproof valiant, retort courteous, recrimination, revenge, compensation, reaction, retaliating, retaliatory, retaliative, talionic, in retaliation, en revanche, mutato nomine de te fabula narratur, par pari refero, tu quoque, you too, you're another, suo sibi gladio hunc jugulo, a beau jeu beau retour, litem _ç, lite resolvit.

VB retaliate, retort, turn upon, pay, pay off, pay back, pay in one's own coin, pay in the same coin, cap, reciprocate, turn the tables upon, return the compliment, give a quid pro quo, give as much as one takes, give as good as one gets, give and take, exchange fisticuffs, be quits, be even with, pay off old scores, serve one right, be hoist on one's own petard, throw a stone in one's own garden, catch a Tartar.

Conversion

N conversion, reduction, transmutation, resolution, assimilation, evolution, sea change, change of state, assumption, naturalization, transportation, development, developing, conversion of currency, exchange of currency, exchange rate, bureau de change, chemistry, alchemy, progress, growth, lapse, flux, passage, transit, transition, transmigration, shifting, phase, conjugation, convertibility, crucible, alembic, caldron, retort, convert, pervert, renegade, apostate, converted into, convertible, resolvable into, transitional, naturalized, gradually, &c (slowly) 275 in transitu.

Wit

N wit, humor, wittiness, sense of humor, attic wit, attic salt, atticism, salt, esprit, point, fancy, whim, drollery, pleasantry, farce, buffoonery, fooling, tomfoolery, shenanigan, harlequinade, broad farce, broad humor, fun, espieglerie, vis comica, jocularity, jocosity, jocoseness, facetiousness, waggery, waggishness, whimsicality, comicality, banter, badinage, retort, repartee, smartness, ready wit, quid- pro-quo, ridicule, jest, joke, jape, jibe, facetiae, levity, quips and cranks, capital joke, canorae nugae, standing jest, standing joke, private joke, conceit, quip, quirk, crank, quiddity, concetto, plaisanterie, brilliant idea, merry thought, bright thought, happy thought, sally, flash of wit, flash of merriment, scintillation, mot, mot pour rire, witticism, smart saying, bon-mot, jeu d'esprit, epigram, jest book, dry joke, quodlibet, cream of the jest, word-play, jeu de mots, play of words, play upon words, pun, punning, double entente, double entendre, quibble, verbal quibble, conundrum, anagram, acrostic, double acrostic, trifling, idle conceit, turlupinade, old joke, tired joke, flat joke, Joe Miller, witty, attic, quick-witted, nimble-witted, smart, jocular, jocose, humorous, facetious, waggish, whimsical, kidding, joking, puckish, playful, merry and wise, pleasant, sprightly, light, spirituel, sparkling, epigrammatic, full of point, ben trovato, comic, zany, madcap, funny, amusing, jokingly, in joke, in jest, in sport, in play, adhibenda est in jocando moderatio, gentle dullness ever loves a joke, leave this keen encounter of our wits, just joking, just kidding, surely you jest!.

VB joke, jest, crack a joke, make a joke, jape, cut jokes, perpetrate a joke, pun, perpetrate a pun, make fun of, make merry with, kid, kid around, fool around, set the table in a roar, retort, banter, ridentem dicere verum, joke at one's expense, take in jest, bomb, fall flat, go over like a lead balloon.

Receptacle

N receptacle, inclosure, recipient, receiver, reservatory, compartment, cell, cellule, follicle, hole, corner, niche, recess, nook, crypt, stall, pigeonhole, cove, oriel, cave, capsule, vesicle, cyst, pod, calyx, cancelli, utricle, bladder, pericarp, udder, stomach, paunch, venter, ventricle, crop, craw, maw, gizzard, breadbasket, mouth, pocket, pouch, fob, sheath, scabbard, socket, bag, sac, sack, saccule, wallet, cardcase, scrip, poke, knit, knapsack, haversack, sachel, satchel, reticule, budget, net, ditty bag, ditty box, housewife, hussif, saddlebags, portfolio, quiver, chest, box, coffer, caddy, case, casket, pyx, pix, caisson, desk, bureau, reliquary, trunk, portmanteau, band-box, valise, grip, grip sack, skippet, vasculum, boot, imperial, vache, cage, manger, rack, vessel, vase, bushel, barrel, canister, jar, pottle, basket, pannier, buck-basket, hopper, maund, creel, cran, crate, cradle, bassinet, wisket, whisket, jardiniere, corbeille, hamper, dosser, dorser, tray, hod, scuttle, utensil, brazier, cuspidor, spittoon, cistern, vat, caldron, barrel, cask, drum, puncheon, keg, rundlet, tun, butt, cag, firkin, kilderkin, carboy, amphora, bottle, jar, decanter, ewer, cruse, caraffe, crock, kit, canteen, flagon, demijohn, flask, flasket, stoup, noggin, vial, phial, cruet, caster, urn, epergne, salver, patella, tazza, patera, pig gin, big gin, tyg, nipperkin, pocket pistol, tub, bucket, pail, skeel, pot, tankard, jug, pitcher, mug, pipkin, galipot, gallipot, matrass, receiver, retort, alembic, bolthead, capsule, can, kettle, bowl, basin, jorum, punch bowl, cup, goblet, chalice, tumbler, glass, rummer, horn, saucepan, skillet, posnet, tureen, beaker, flask, Erlenmeyer flask, Florence flask, round-bottom flask, graduated cylinder, test tube, culture tube, pipette, Pasteur pipette, disposable pipette, syringe, vial, carboy, vacuum flask, Petri dish, microtiter tray, centrifuge tube, bail, beaker, billy, canakin, catch basin, catch drain, chatti, lota, mussuk, schooner, spider, terrine, toby, urceus, plate, platter, dish, trencher, calabash, porringer, potager, saucer, pan, crucible, glassware, tableware, vitrics, compote, gravy boat, creamer, sugar bowl, butter dish, mug, pitcher, punch bowl, chafing dish, shovel, trowel, spoon, spatula, ladle, dipper, tablespoon, watch glass, thimble, closet, commode, cupboard, cellaret, chiffonniere, locker, bin, bunker, buffet, press, clothespress, safe, sideboard, drawer, chest of drawers, chest on chest, highboy, lowboy, till, scrutoire, secretary, secretaire, davenport, bookcase, cabinet, canterbury, escritoire, etagere, vargueno, vitrine, chamber, apartment, room, cabin, office, court, hall, atrium, suite of rooms, apartment, flat, story, saloon, salon, parlor, by-room, cubicle, presence chamber, sitting room, best room, keeping room, drawing room, reception room, state room, gallery, cabinet, closet, pew, box, boudoir, adytum, sanctum, bedroom, dormitory, refectory, dining room, salle-a-manger, nursery, schoolroom, library, study, studio, billiard room, smoking room, den, stateroom, tablinum, tenement, bath room, bathroom, toilet, lavatory, powder room, john, jakes, necessary, loo, men's room, ladies' room, rest room, (uncleanness), 653 attic, loft, garret, cockloft, clerestory, cellar, vault, hold, cockpit, cubbyhole, cook house, entre-sol, mezzanine floor, ground floor, rez-de-chaussee, basement, kitchen, pantry, bawarchi-khana, scullery, offices, storeroom, lumber room, dairy, laundry, coach house, garage, hangar, outhouse, penthouse, lean-to, portico, porch, stoop, stope, veranda, patio, lanai, terrace, deck, lobby, court, courtyard, hall, vestibule, corridor, passage, breezeway, ante room, ante chamber, lounge, piazza, veranda, conservatory, greenhouse, bower, arbor, summerhouse, alcove, grotto, hermitage, lodging, bed, carriage, capsular, saccular, sacculated, recipient, ventricular, cystic, vascular, vesicular, cellular, camerated, locular, multilocular, polygastric, marsupial, siliquose, siliquous.

Vaporization

N vaporization, volatilization, gasification, evaporation, vaporation, distillation, cupellation, cohobation, sublimination, exhalation, volatility, vaporizer, still, retort, fumigation, steaming, bay salt, chloride of sodium, mister, spray, bubble, effervescence, ', volatilized, reeking, volatile, evaporable, vaporizable, bubbly, effervescent, boiling, Specific Fluids.

Furnace

N furnace, stove, kiln, oven, cracker, hearth, focus, combustion chamber, athanor, hypocaust, reverberatory, volcano, forge, fiery furnace, limekiln, Dutch oven, tuyere, brasier, salamander, heater, warming pan, boiler, caldron, seething caldron, pot, urn, kettle, chafing-dish, retort, crucible, alembic, still, waffle irons, muffle furnace, induction furnace, electric heater, electric furnace, electric resistance heat, open-hearth furnace, fireplace, gas fireplace, coal fire, wood fire, fire-dog, fire- irons, grate, range, kitchener, caboose, camboose, poker, tongs, shovel, ashpan, hob, trivet, andiron, gridiron, ashdrop, frying-pan, stew-pan, backlog, hearth, inglenook, oil burner, gas burner, Franklin stove, pot-bellied stove, wood-burning stove, central heating, steam heat, hot water heat, gas heat, forced hot air, electric heat, heat pump, solar heat, convective heat, hothouse, bakehouse, washhouse, laundry, conservatory, sudatory, Turkish bath, Russian bath, vapor bath, steam bath, sauna, warm bath, vaporarium.

Answer

N answer, response, reply, replication, riposte, rejoinder, surrejoinder, rebutter, surrebutter, retort, repartee, rescript, rescription, antiphon, antiphony, acknowledgment, password, echo, counter statement, discovery, solution, rationale, clue, Oedipus, oracle, return, answering, responsive, respondent, conclusive, because, on the scent, on the right scent, Int, eureka!.

VB answer, respond, reply, rebut, retort, rejoin, give for answer, return for answer, acknowledge, echo, explain, solve, discover, fathom, hunt out, satisfy, set at rest, determine.

Confutation

N confutation, refutation, answer, complete answer, disproof, conviction, redargution, invalidation, exposure, exposition, clincher, retort, reductio ad absurdum, knock down argument, tu quoque argument, sockdolager, correction, dissuasion, confuting, confuted capable of refutation, refutable, confutable, defeasible, contravene (counter evidence), condemned on one's own showing, condemned out of one's own mouth, the argument falls to the ground, cadit quaestio, it does not hold water, suo sibi gladio hunc jugulo, his argument was demolished by new evidence.