n.
Pronunciation: ri- ' to ̇ rt
Function: verb
Etymology: Latin retortus, past participle of retorqu ē re, literally, to twist back, hurl back, from re- + torqu ē re to twist ― more at TORTURE
Date: circa 1557
transitive verb
1 : to pay or hurl back : RETURN < retort an insult>
2 a : to make a reply to b : to say in reply
3 : to answer (as an argument) by a counter argument
intransitive verb
1 : to answer back usually sharply
2 : to return an argument or charge
3 : RETALIATE