tableau

American  

[ta-bloh, tab-loh] / tæˈbloʊ, ˈtæb loʊ /

noun

plural

tableaux, tableaus

1. a picture, as of a scene.

2. a picturesque grouping of persons or objects; a striking scene.

3. a representation of a picture, statue, scene, etc., by one or more persons suitably costumed and posed.

4. Solitaire. the portion of a layout to which one may add cards according to suit or denomination.

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tableau British  

/ ˈtæbləʊ /

noun

1. See tableau vivant

2. a pause during or at the end of a scene on stage when all the performers briefly freeze in position

3. any dramatic group or scene

4. logic short for semantic tableau

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Etymology

Origin of tableau

First recorded in 1690–1700; from French: “board, picture,” Middle French tablel, diminutive of table table

Example Sentences

One almost gets a sense that the great doers of history were like robots, temporarily inhabited by an otherworldly spiritual force or, alternatively, were stick figures that Hegel moved about on his grandiose world-historical tableau.

From Salon

The British photographer Martin Parr transformed moments from the everyday world into vibrant, witty tableaux.

From The Wall Street Journal

The British photographer Martin Parr transformed moments from the everyday world into vibrant, witty tableaux.

From The Wall Street Journal

The British photographer Martin Parr transformed moments from the everyday world into vibrant, witty tableaux.

From The Wall Street Journal

Wright manages his scene like Classical or biblical tableaux, but his subject and cast are as modern as the philosopher’s machines.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• illustration
• spectacle