reply vs replication

reply and replication both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
reply	Yes	No	Yes	No
replication	Yes	No	No	No

As nouns, replication is a hyponym of reply; that is, replication is a word with a more specific, narrower meaning than reply:

reply: the speech act of continuing a conversational exchange
replication: a quick reply to a question or remark (especially a witty or critical one)

Other hyponyms of reply include counterblast, non sequitur, comeback, counter, rejoinder, retort, return, riposte, echo, answer.

reply (noun)	replication (noun)
the speech act of continuing a conversational exchange	the act of making copies
a statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation	the repetition of an experiment in order to test the validity of its conclusion
	copy that is not the original; something that has been copied
	the repetition of a sound resulting from reflection of the sound waves
	(law) a pleading made by a plaintiff in reply to the defendant's plea or answer
	a quick reply to a question or remark (especially a witty or critical one)
	(genetics) the process whereby DNA makes a copy of itself before cell division

reply (verb)	replication (verb)
react verbally