Retort /(?)/

imp. & p. p. Retorted; p. pr. & vb. n. Retorting

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.

1. To return an argument or a charge; to make a severe reply.

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. 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. (Chem. & the Arts)