retort

answer, reply, respond, retort, return

这些动词均有“回答”之意。
answer: 常用词，指用书面、口头或行动对他人的请求、询问、质问等作出回答或反应。
reply: 较正式用词，较少用于口语。侧重经过考虑的较正式答复。
respond: 正式用词，指即刻的，以口头或行动对外来的号召、请求或刺激等作出回答或响应。
retort: 指对不同意见、批评或控诉作出迅速、有力的回答，即“反驳”。
return: 正式用词，从本义“归来，回去”引申作“回答、答辨”讲时，含反驳或反唇相讥之意。

名词 retort:

1. a quick reply to a question or remark (especially a witty or critical one)
   同义词：rejoinder, return, riposte, replication, comeback, counter
2. a vessel where substances are distilled or decomposed by heat

动词 retort:

1. answer back
   同义词：come back, repay, return, riposte, rejoin

1. He retorted, "it's entirely your fault."
   他反驳说：“这完全是你的错误。”
2. He retorted that it was my fault as much as his.
   他反驳说我的错误并不比他的小。

retort

v.（动词）
re.tort.ed,re.tort.ing,re.torts
v.tr.（及物动词）

To reply, especially to answer in a quick, caustic, or witty manner.See Synonyms at answer
答复：答复，尤指以迅速、讥讽或机智的方式参见 answer
To present a counterargument to.
反驳：对…提出驳论
To return in kind; pay back.
反击，报复：以同样的方式回报；报复
v.intr.（不及物动词）
To make a reply, especially a quick, caustic, or witty one.
答复：答复，尤指以迅速、讥讽或机智的回答
To present a counterargument.
反驳
To return like for like; retaliate.
以牙还牙；报复
n.（名词）
A quick, incisive reply, especially one that turns the first speaker`s words to his or her own disadvantage.
反驳，回复：一个迅速、尖锐的答复，尤指用第一位发言者的话来攻击他或她使其处于不利的地位
The act or an instance of retorting.
反击，报复：报复的行为或实例

来源：
Latin retorquôre retort- [to bend back, retort]
拉丁语 retorquôre retort- [向后弯，回嘴]
re- [re-]
re- [表示.回复.，.回应.]
torquôre [to bend, twist] * see terk w-
torquôre [弯曲，扭曲] *参见 terk w-

【引伸】
retort.er
n.（名词）

---------------另--------------
retort
retort 2

n.（名词）
A closed laboratory vessel with an outlet tube, used for distillation, sublimation, or decomposition by heat.
蒸馏瓶：具有流出口管的实验室封闭器皿，用于加热蒸馏、升华或分解

来源：
French retorte
法语 retorte
from Medieval Latin retorta
源自 中世纪拉丁语 retorta
from feminine of Latin retortus [past participle of] retorquôre [to bend back] * see retort
源自 拉丁语 retortus的阴性词 [] retorquôre的过去分词 [向后弯] *参见 retort