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- DictionaryRe·bus/ˈrēbəs/
noun
- 1. a puzzle in which words are represented by combinations of pictures and individual letters; for instance, apex might be represented by a picture of an ape followed by a letter X.
People also ask
What does a rebus mean?
What is a rebus for the word 'belief'?
What is a rebus puzzle?
What does Rebus mean in Greek mythology?
The meaning of REBUS is a representation of words or syllables by pictures of objects or by symbols whose names resemble the intended words or syllables in sound; also : a riddle made up of such pictures or symbols.
Rebus definition: a representation of a word or phrase by pictures, symbols, etc., that suggest that word or phrase or its syllables. See examples of REBUS used in a sentence.
A rebus is a puzzle in which symbols or pictures represent words or syllables. He is fully aware of the very ancient tradition of the rebus, the pictorial pun.
- I. What Is A Rebus?
- III. The Importance of Using Rebus
- IV. Rebus in Literature
- V. Rebus in Pop Culture
- VI. Related Terms
- VII. in Closing
A rebus is a code or reference where pictures, letters, or symbols represent certain words or phrases. During the Middle Ages, many families used rebuses to symbolize their family names or crest. In the modern age, rebuses are typically used as challenging riddles or puzzles. Rebus (pronounced ree-buhs) is derived from the Latin phrase nōn verbīs s...
Rebuses are, in a sense, the root of many written languages. Many ancient language systems were created through the use of rebuses, with pictures representing words or associated sounds. Egyptian hieroglyphs are an example of a language that has many rebuses. Languages such as Chinese, which use characters, may have been created originally using re...
Example 1
Rebuses can be found in ancient literature or can be inspired by popular literature. Here are a few examples of literary rebuses:
Example 2
This rebus is inspired by Shakespeare’s famous lines from the play Hamlet. This rebus was part of America to her Mistaken Mother, a pictogram made in 1794 to comment on British and colonial American politics. In this example, rebus was used for satire:
Rebuses can be found in pop culture as well, as ransom notes are written in code by TV criminals, musical album covers convey secret messages, and various companies make use of symbols in advertising and product placement. Here are a few examples of pop cultural rebuses:
Hieroglyphics
Egyptian hieroglyphics were used by ancient Egyptians to communicate. The language originated from artistic symbols on poetry. Hieroglyphics are an example of a language which emerged from rebuses.
Symbol
A symbol is an object or image which represents something else. Symbols and rebuses are related because rebuses consist of symbols including numbers, alphabetic letters, and images.
Rebuses are more than fun word games. They are the beginning of many modern-day languages and the beginning of written communication and recording. Rebuses show us how images and drawings became symbols and letters which became words, phrases, and sentences that make up alphabets and languages of today.
A rebus uses pictures and symbols to convey a message in what may be considered a fun code. The letters ICU might be used to stand for the sentence “I see you.” The word rebus could be depicted with the letters RE followed by a picture of a school bus.
Rebus definition: A representation of words in the form of pictures or symbols, often presented as a puzzle.
Definition of rebus noun in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.
