alembic vs retort

alembic and retort both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
alembic	Yes	No	No	No
retort	Yes	No	Yes	No

As nouns, retort is a hypernym of alembic; that is, retort is a word with a broader meaning than alembic:

alembic: an obsolete kind of container used for distillation; two retorts connected by a tube
retort: a vessel where substances are distilled or decomposed by heat

alembic (noun)	retort (noun)
an obsolete kind of container used for distillation; two retorts connected by a tube	a vessel where substances are distilled or decomposed by heat
	a quick reply to a question or remark (especially a witty or critical one)

alembic (verb)	retort (verb)
	answer back