retort
/rɪˈtɔːt/ (bre, ipa) · /rɪˈtɔːrt/ (ame, ipa) · /ri-ˈtȯrt/ (ame, mw)
retort — verb
- retortpresent simple I / you / we / they
- retortshe / she / it
- retortedpast simple
- retorting-ing form
1. to reply to someone immediately and sharply when you feel annoyed, offended, or
to reply to someone immediately and sharply when you feel annoyed, offended, or want to make a witty point — often using a short, cutting remark that shuts down the conversation
When Theo's boss blamed him for the delay, he retorted that the missing data had only arrived that morning.
retort + that-clause for reporting what was said
Ananya retorted with a sarcastic comment the moment her brother laughed at her cooking.
retort + with + noun phrase
Amara was about to retort angrily, but she noticed the hurt look on his face and stayed silent instead.
'I never said anything of the sort!' retorted Elena, slamming her notebook shut.
When the journalist questioned his honesty, the mayor retorted that the accusation was completely false.
- concede
to agree or give in, rather than answer sharply
文法句型
retort + that-clause
retort + direct speech
retort + with + noun
用法筆記
Frequently used in narrative or reported speech. Unlike reply or respond, retort signals that the answer is quick, sharp, and often dismissive or witty. The person retorting usually has the upper hand in the exchange.
常見錯誤
retort — noun
- retortsingular
- retortsplural
1. a short, clever, and often angry or amusing answer that you give to someone, esp
a short, clever, and often angry or amusing answer that you give to someone, especially in an argument or debate
Haruki was known for his sharp retorts, which always left his colleagues speechless during meetings.
adjective + retort (sharp retort)
Sofia's retort to the critic's review was so brilliant that the audience burst into applause.
retort + to + target
Grandmother had a playful retort ready every time one of the grandchildren teased her about her age.
Omar wanted to fire back an angry retort, but his manager's calm stare made him rethink.
文法句型
a + adjective + retort
retort + to + noun phrase
用法筆記
This sense is used mainly in formal, literary, or narrative writing. In everyday speech, retort as a noun sounds quite formal; phrases like a sharp reply or a witty comeback are more common in casual conversation.
2. a large, strong container made of metal or heat-resistant material, used in fact
a large, strong container made of metal or heat-resistant material, used in factories for heating substances to very high temperatures in processes such as distillation or decomposition
The retort in the steel plant glowed red-hot as workers fed raw materials into its opening.
retort in industrial context
Diego checked the pressure gauge on the retort twice before starting the heating cycle.
retort + pressure gauge (collocation in context)
A cracked retort can cause dangerous gas leaks, so the factory inspects every vessel before each shift.
文法句型
the + retort
retort + verb
用法筆記
Chiefly used in industrial and technical contexts. Not interchangeable with the laboratory retort (sense 3) — sense 2 refers to large-scale factory equipment, not small glass labware.
3. a glass container with a long, narrow, downward-curving neck, used by scientists
a glass container with a long, narrow, downward-curving neck, used by scientists for heating, distilling, or decomposing chemical substances in experiments
Yuna carefully placed the glass retort on the clamp stand before lighting the Bunsen burner beneath it.
glass retort in lab setup
Dr. Kofi pointed to the retort and explained how the vapor would travel through the neck into the collection flask.
retort in distillation context
Linh cleaned the retort with distilled water after finishing the experiment, making sure no residue remained inside.
文法句型
a + retort
glass retort
用法筆記
The laboratory retort has largely been replaced by modern distillation equipment in most teaching labs, but the term is still used in historical chemistry contexts and in some specialised experimental setups.