definition of
reply

[1] #1 reply v. [answer, respond] react verbally; "She didn't want to answer"; "answer the question"; "We answered that we would accept the invitation". wn

[2] #2 reply n. [answer, response] a statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation; "I waited several days for his answer"; "he wrote replies to several of his critics". wn

[3] #3 reply n. [response] the speech act of continuing a conversational exchange; "he growled his reply". wn