Definitions for retorts

• Definition
• Anagrams (120)

retorts re·tort

Spelling: [ri-tawrt]

IPA: /rɪˈtɔrt/

Retorts is a 7 letter English word. It's valid Scrabble word worth 6 points. It's valid Words with friends word worth 6 points.

You can make 120 anagrams from letters in retorts (eorrstt).

Definitions for retorts

noun

1. a severe, incisive, or witty reply, especially one that counters a first speaker's statement, argument, etc.
2. the act of retorting.
3. Chemistry. a vessel, commonly a glass bulb with a long neck bent downward, used for distilling or decomposing substances by heat. a refractory chamber, generally cylindrically shaped, within which some substance, as ore or coal, is heated as part of a smelting or manufacturing process. an airtight, usually cylindrical vessel of fire clay or iron, used in the destructive distillation chiefly of coal and wood in the manufacture of illuminating gas.
4. a sterilizer for food cans.

verb (used with object)

1. to reply to, usually in a sharp or retaliatory way; reply in kind to.
2. to return (an accusation, epithet, etc.) upon the person uttering it.
3. to answer (an argument or the like) by another to the contrary.
4. to sterilize food after it is sealed in a container, by steam or other heating methods.
5. Chemistry. to subject (shale, ore, etc.) to heat and possibly reduced pressure in order to produce fuel oil, metal, etc.

Origin of retorts

1590-1600; Latin retortus (past participle of retorquēre to bend back), equivalent to re- re- + torqu(ēre) to twist, bend + -tus past participle suffix, with -qut- >

Examples for retorts

Kirkwood's smile robbed the retort of any flavor of incivility.

Mr Pecksniff was, as a matter of course, greatly entertained by this retort.

Karl had not the subtlety to retort, “Ay, but does it say what we like?”

The retort will come from our comrades on the right that his business experience matters more than governmental experience.

Conservatives will retort, "This just means you simpletons don't understand high finance."

Here's a Boehner retort to Sean Hannity (via Buzzfeed's Rebecca Berg).

And the retort, damning as it is unassailable, is simply this: 46 days.

Her raillery, like the raillery of princes, was without fear of retort.

I dared not retort, but I looked so hard at his paunch that the General smiled.

Before she had time to think of a retort, Linda saw Tania beckoning her.