Hieroglyphic vs. Rebus — What's the Difference?

Of, relating to, or being a system of writing, such as that of ancient Egypt, in which pictorial symbols are used to represent meaning or sounds or a combination of meaning and sound.

A rebus () is a puzzle device that combines the use of illustrated pictures with individual letters to depict words or phrases. For example: the word "been" might be depicted by a rebus showing an illustrated bumblebee next to a plus sign (+) and the letter "n".

Written with such symbols.

A representation of words in the form of pictures or symbols, often presented as a puzzle.

Difficult to read or decipher.

An arrangement of pictures, symbols, and/or words representing phrases or words, especially as a word puzzle.

A hieroglyph.

An arrangement of pictures on a coat of arms which suggests the name of the person to whom it belongs.

Often hieroglyphics (used with a sing. or pl. verb) Hieroglyphic writing, especially that of the ancient Egyptians.

To represent (a phrase or word) as a rebus.

Something, such as illegible or undecipherable writing, that is felt to resemble a hieroglyph.

To apply a rebus to (something).

A writing system of ancient Egypt, Minoans, Maya and other civilizations, using pictorial symbols to represent individual sounds as a rebus

A mode of expressing words and phrases by pictures of objects whose names resemble those words, or the syllables of which they are composed; enigmatical representation of words by figures; hence, a peculiar form of riddle made up of such representations.

Any symbol used in this system; a hieroglyph.

A pictorial suggestion on a coat of arms of the name of the person to whom it belongs. See Canting arms, under Canting.

(by extension) Undecipherable handwriting or secret symbol.

To mark or indicate by a rebus.

Of, relating to, or written with this system of symbols

A puzzle where you decode a message consisting of pictures representing syllables and words

Difficult to decipher

Emblematic; expressive of some meaning by characters, pictures, or figures; as, hieroglyphic writing; a hieroglyphic obelisk.

Resembling hieroglyphics; not decipherable.

Of or pertaining to hieroglyphs.

Writing that resembles hieroglyphics (usually by being illegible)

A writing system using picture symbols; used in ancient Egypt

Resembling hieroglyphic writing

Written in or belonging to a writing system using pictorial symbols