rebus

[ ree-buhs ]

noun

, plural re·bus·es.

1. a representation of a word or phrase by pictures, symbols, etc., that suggest that word or phrase or its syllables:

   Two gates and a head is a rebus for Gateshead.

2. a piece of writing containing many such representations.

rebus

/ ˈriːbəs /

noun

1. a puzzle consisting of pictures representing syllables and words; in such a puzzle the word hear might be represented by H followed by a picture of an ear
2. a heraldic emblem or device that is a pictorial representation of or pun on the name of the bearer

Word History and Origins

Origin of rebus¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; from Latin rēbus “by things” (ablative plural of rēs ), in phrase nōn verbīs sed rēbus “not by words but by things”

Word History and Origins

Origin of rebus¹

C17: from French rébus , from the Latin rēbus by things, from res

Example Sentences

The effect of these lines, which reach back into the past while projecting far into the future, is that of a rebus, with the stunning phrase “the final whereabouts” offering one more breath of indirection.

From Los Angeles Times

In San Antonio, Texas, the final contest was a fresh and very complicated rebus puzzle.

From Literature

In recent weeks, fans called out the game for inviting players to guess less familiar words such as “tapir” and “rebus.”

From Washington Post

Baric’s entrancing collage, with an incessant penchant for psychedelic dissonance, is in itself a rebus — a puzzle that derives meaning from drawings and letters.

From Los Angeles Times

This newly updated version can also handle multiple rebuses, which is the rare occasion when multiple boxes in a puzzle hold two letters rather than one.

From The Verge

Related Words

• conundrum
• enigma
• problem
• question
• riddle
• secrecy
• subtlety
• thriller