rebus

/ˈrɛbəs/

Definitions

1. noun

A puzzle or riddle in which a word or phrase is represented by pictures, symbols, or letters, rather than being written out in full.

“The cryptic rebus on the front of the puzzle magazine took hours to decipher.”

2. verb

To represent something, especially a word or phrase, by a rebus.

“The artist rebus the phrase ‘I love you’ using only flowers and leaves.”

Synonyms

  • puzzle
  • riddle

Antonyms

  • plain
  • straightforward