rebus

Inflections of 'rebus' (n): npl: rebuses

re•bus n. [countable], pl. -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.

re•bus n., pl. -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.

Latin rēbus by things (ablative plural of rēs), in phrase nōn verbīs sed rēbus not by words but by things
1595–1605

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

rebus /ˈriːbəs/ n ( pl -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

Etymology: 17th Century: from French rébus, from the Latin rēbus by things, from res

'rebus' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):

🗣️Forum discussions with the word(s) "rebus" in the title:

rebus
rebus rhyme

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