Complete Definition of "retort"

English

Etymology
Latin retorquere 'twist back'.

Pronunciation
a|UK IPA|/rɪ't�:t/, a|US IPA|/r��to�rt/
:Rhymes: Rhymes:English:-��(r)t|-��(r)t

Noun
en-noun

  1. A sharp or witty reply, or one which turns an argument against its originator.
  2. chemistry A flask with a rounded base and a long neck that is bent down and taper|tapered, used to heat a liquid for distillation.

#:*1893, A large curved retort was boiling furiously in the bluish flame of a Bunsen burner, and the distilled drops were condensing into a two-litre measure. � Arthur Conan Doyle, �The Naval Treaty� (Norton 2005, p.670)

  1. A container in which material is subjected to high temperature|temperatures as part of an industrial manufacturing process, especially during the smelt|smelting and forge|forging of metal.

Verb
en-verb

  1. To say something sharp or witty in answer to a remark or accusation.
  2. To make a remark which reverses an argument upon its originator.
  3. To heat in a retort.

fr:retort
io:retort
ru:retort
fi:retort
te:retort
vi:retort
zh:retort

Revision and Credits for"retort"
Dictionary content provided from Wiktionary.org under the
GNU Free Documentation License
 
 

 Find:
  Words Starting With:
  Words Ending With:
  Words Containing:
  Words That Match:

 
 Translate Into:
  
Dutch   French   German
  
Italian   Spanish
    Show results per page.

Browse the Dictionary
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

   
Allwords Copyright 1998-2024 All rights reserved.