Glassware on a lab bench or counter (6)
I believe the answer is:
retort
'counter' is the definition.
(I know that counter can be written as retort)
'glassware on a lab bench or' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'on' could be 're' ('on' can be mean 'with reference to') and 're' is located in the answer.
'or' is found in the answer.
This explanation may well be incorrect...
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for retort that I've seen before include "Snappy reply" , "Answering remark" , "Lab equipment" , "Long-necked glass vessel" , "Sharp response; lab item" .)