Re*tort" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Retorted; p. pr. & vb. n. Retorting.] [L. retortus, p. p. of retorquere; pref. re- re- + torquere to turn twist. See Torsion, and cf. Retort, n., 2.] 1. To bend or curve back; as, a retorted line.

With retorted head, pruned themselves as they floated.

2. To throw back; to reverberate; to reflect.

As when his virtues, shining upon others,
Heat them and they retort that heat again
To the first giver.

3. To return, as an argument, accusation, censure, or incivility; as, to retort the charge of vanity.

And with retorted scorn his back he turned.

Re*tort", v. i. To return an argument or a charge; to make a severe reply. Pope.

Re*tort", n. [See Retort, v. t.] 1. The return of, or reply to, an argument, charge, censure, incivility, taunt, or witticism; a quick and witty or severe response.

This is called the retort courteous.

2. [F. retorte (cf. Sp. retorta), fr. L. retortus, p. p. of retorquere. So named from its bent shape. See Retort, v. t.] (Chem. & the Arts) 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.

Syn. -- Repartee; answer. -- Retort, Repartee. A retort is a short and pointed reply, turning back on an assailant the arguments, censure, or derision he had thrown out. A repartee is usually a good-natured return to some witty or sportive remark.

Re*tort" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Retorted; p. pr. & vb. n. Retorting.] [L. retortus, p. p. of retorquere; pref. re- re- + torquere to turn twist. See Torsion, and cf. Retort, n., 2.] 1. To bend or curve back; as, a retorted line.

With retorted head, pruned themselves as they floated.

2. To throw back; to reverberate; to reflect.

As when his virtues, shining upon others,
Heat them and they retort that heat again
To the first giver.

3. To return, as an argument, accusation, censure, or incivility; as, to retort the charge of vanity.

And with retorted scorn his back he turned.

Re*tort", v. i. To return an argument or a charge; to make a severe reply. Pope.

Re*tort", n. [See Retort, v. t.] 1. The return of, or reply to, an argument, charge, censure, incivility, taunt, or witticism; a quick and witty or severe response.

This is called the retort courteous.

2. [F. retorte (cf. Sp. retorta), fr. L. retortus, p. p. of retorquere. So named from its bent shape. See Retort, v. t.] (Chem. & the Arts) 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.

Syn. -- Repartee; answer. -- Retort, Repartee. A retort is a short and pointed reply, turning back on an assailant the arguments, censure, or derision he had thrown out. A repartee is usually a good-natured return to some witty or sportive remark.

• A sharp or witty reply, or one which turns an argument against its originator.
  
• A crack or bang sound, such as the sound of a gunshot.
  
• (Chemistry) A flask with a rounded base and a long neck that is bent down and tapered, used to heat a liquid for distillation.
  
• A container in which material is subjected to high temperatures as part of an industrial manufacturing process, especially during the smelting and forging of metal.
  
• Say something sharp or witty in answer to a remark or accusation.
  
• So make a remark which reverses an argument upon its originator.
  
• To heat in a retort.