rep·re·sent / ˌrepriˈzent/ • v. [tr.] 1. be entitled or appointed to act or speak for (someone), esp. in an official capacity: for purposes of litigation, an infant can and must be represented by an adult. ∎  (of a competitor) participate in a sports event or other competition on behalf of (one's club, town, region, or country): Owens represented the U.S. ∎  be an elected member of a legislature for (a particular constituency, party, or group): she became the first woman to represent her district. ∎  (usu. be represented) act as a substitute for (someone), esp. on an official or ceremonial occasion: the president was represented by the secretary of state.2. constitute; amount to: this figure represents eleven percent of the company's total sales. ∎  be a specimen or example of; typify: twenty parents, picked to represent a cross section of rural life. ∎  (be represented) (of a group or type of person or thing) be present or found in something, esp. to a particular degree: abstraction is well represented in this exhibition.3. depict (a particular subject) in a picture or other work of art: santos are small wooden figures representing saints. ∎  [tr.] describe or depict (someone or something) as being of a certain nature; portray in a particular way: the young were consistently represented as being in need of protection. ∎  (of a sign or symbol) have a particular signification; stand for: the numbers 1–10 represent the letters A–Z. ∎  be a symbol or embodiment of (a particular quality or thing): the three heads of Cerberus represent the past, present, and future. ∎  play the part of (someone) in a theatrical production.4. formal state or point out (something) clearly: it was represented to him that she would be an unsuitable wife. ∎  allege; claim: the vendors have represented that such information is accurate.DERIVATIVES: rep·re·sent·a·bil·i·ty / ˌrepriˌzentəˈbilətē/ n.rep·re·sent·a·ble adj.

represent †bring into one's presence; bring before the mind; display to the eye; symbolize; XIV; stand in place of XV; speak for, as in parliament XVII. — (O)F. représenter or L. repræsentāre, f. RE- + præsentāre PRESENT.
So representation †presence, †appearance, likeness XV; presentation to the eye, mind, etc. XVI. — (O)F. or L. representative adj. XIV; sb. XVII. — (O)F. or medL.

REPRESENT

To exhibit or expose; to appear in the character of.

When an item is represented, it is produced publicly. To represent an individual means to stand in his or her place, acting as his or her substitute or attorney.