a statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation

a statement that solves a problem or explains how to solve the problem

the speech act of replying to a question

the principal pleading by the defendant in response to plaintiff's complaint; in criminal law it consists of the defendant's plea of ‘guilty’ or ‘not guilty’ (or nolo contendere); in civil law it must contain denials of all allegations in the plaintiff's complaint that the defendant hopes to controvert and it can contain affirmative defenses or counterclaims

a nonverbal reaction