rebus

[ ree-buhs ]
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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.

Origin of rebus

1
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”

Words Nearby rebus

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British Dictionary definitions for rebus

rebus

/ (ˈriːbəs) /


nounplural -buses
  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

Origin of rebus

1
C17: from French rébus, from the Latin rēbus by things, from res

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