reply

v. answer, respond

n. answer, response

The reply is a response by plaintiff to defendant's answer. A reply occurs only when defendant has asserted a counterclaim or the court has ordered a reply. It is important to keep in mind that "plaintiff" in this context may also refer to an impleaded party. So, if a defendant impleads a party, this new party is the third-party defendant and the original defendant is the third-party plaintiff. The third-party plaintiff must file a complaint on the third-party defendant, who then must answer. The court may order a reply to this third-party defendant's answer.
See more at Wikipedia.org...

Noun
1. a statement (either spoken or written) that is made in 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"
(synonym) answer, response
(hypernym) statement
(hyponym) rescript
(derivation) answer, respond
2. the speech act of continuing a conversational exchange; "he growled his reply"
(synonym) response
(hypernym) speech act
(hyponym) counterblast
(derivation) answer, respond
Verb
1. reply or respond to; "She didn't want to answer"; "answer the question"; "We answered that we would accept the invitation"
(synonym) answer, respond
(hypernym) state, say, tell
(hyponym) call back
(derivation) response

(v. t.)
To return for an answer.
  

(v. i.)
To make a return in words or writing; to respond; to answer.
  

(v. i.)
To answer a defendant's plea.
  

(v. i.)
That which is said, written, or done in answer to what is said, written, or done by another; an answer; a response.
  

(v. i.)
Figuratively, to do something in return for something done; as, to reply to a signal; to reply to the fire of a battery.
  

See followup.