retort

5 definitions • 5 examples

to answer someone quickly in an angry or funny way:

[ + speech ] "That doesn't concern you!" she retorted.

a quick answer that is angry or funny:

"I'm going to tell him," said Max. "Just you try!" came the retort.

a container in which substances are heated at high temperatures, especially in a factory :

Since the 1700s, gas has been made by baking coal in airtight retorts.

a glass container with a long neck (= top upright part), used in chemical experiments:

On the various shelves were retorts, beakers, distilling tubes, and burners.

to make a quick answer that is often amusing and sometimes expresses anger or annoyance:

When the telephone operator called him boy, he retorted, "That’s Mr. Boy to you!"