retort

¹re·tort

verb \ri-ˈtȯrt\

Definition of RETORT

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

Origin of RETORT

Latin retortus, past participle of retorquēre, literally, to twist back, hurl back, from re- + torquēre to twist — more at torture

First Known Use: circa 1557

Rhymes with RETORT

abort, airport, amort, aport, assort, athwart, backcourt, bellwort, birthwort, bistort, blood sport, Bridgeport, carport, cavort, cohort, colewort, comport, consort, contort, crosscourt, deport, disport, distort, downcourt, effort, escort, exhort, export, extort, fall short, figwort, forecourt, for short, free port, frontcourt, glasswort, Gosport, Gulfport, half-court, homeport, home port, in short, jetport, lousewort, lungwort, madwort, milkwort, mugwort, Newport, outport, passport, presort, purport, ragwort, report, re-sort, resort, sandwort, seaport, sell short, Shreveport, spaceport, spearwort, spoilsport, Stockport, support, toothwort, transport