/ rɪˈtɔːt; NAmE rɪˈtɔːrt/ verb , noun
■ verb
to reply quickly to a comment, in an angry, offended or humorous way :
[ v speech ]
'Don't be ridiculous!' Pat retorted angrily.
[ v that ]
Sam retorted that it was my fault as much as his.
■ noun
1.
a quick, angry or humorous reply
SYN rejoinder , riposte :
She bit back (= stopped herself from making) a sharp retort.
2.
a closed bottle with a long narrow bent spout that is used in a laboratory for heating chemicals
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WORD ORIGIN
verb and noun sense 1 late 15th cent. (in the sense hurl back an accusation or insult ): from Latin retort- twisted back, cast back, from the verb retorquere , from re- in return + torquere to twist.
noun sense 2 early 17th cent.: from French retorte , from medieval Latin retorta , feminine past participle of retorquere twist back (with reference to the long recurved neck of the laboratory container).