rebus
[ ree-buhs ]
/ ˈri bəs /
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noun, plural re·bus·es.
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.
a piece of writing containing many such representations.
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The rainy weather could not ________ my elated spirits on my graduation day.
Origin of rebus
1595–1605; <Latin rēbus by things (ablative plural of rēs), in phrase nōn verbīs sed rēbus not by words but by things
Words nearby rebus
rebreathing technique, rebroadcast, rebuff, rebuild, rebuke, rebus, rebus sic stantibus, rebut, rebuttal, rebutter, rec
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for rebus
British Dictionary definitions for rebus
rebus
/ (ˈriːbəs) /
noun plural -buses
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
a heraldic emblem or device that is a pictorial representation of or pun on the name of the bearer
Word Origin for rebus
C17: from French rébus, from the Latin rēbus by things, from res
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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