A tableau is a scene, for example from the Bible, history, or mythology, that consists of a group of people in costumes who do not speak or move. The people are sometimes on a float in a procession.
...a nativity tableau.
...tableaux depicting the foundation of Barcelona.
Synonyms: picture, scene, representation, arrangement More Synonyms of tableau
2. countable noun
A tableau is a piece of art such as a sculpture or painting that shows a scene, especially one from the Bible, history, or mythology.
...Gaudi's luxuriant stone tableau of the Nativity on the cathedral's east face.
tableau in British English
(ˈtæbləʊ)
nounWord forms: plural-leaux (-ləʊ, -ləʊz) or -leaus
1. same as 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
Word origin
C17: from French, from Old French tablel a picture, diminutive of table
tableau in American English
(ˈtæbˌloʊ; tæˈbloʊ)
nounWord forms: pluralˈtabˌleaux (ˈtæbˌloʊz; tæˈbloʊz) or ˈtableaus
1.
a striking, dramatic scene or picture
2.
tableau vivant
Word origin
Fr < OFr tablel, dim. of table: see table
Examples of 'tableau' in a sentence
tableau
The final tableau is movingly effective, but elsewhere there is not enough to engage the heart or sustain the memory.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The whole tableau looks staged.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
But then they're all trapped, as a final tableau suggests.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The impeccably judged final tableau, returning to that much copied song, catches you in the pit of the stomach.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
In other languages
tableau
British English: tableau NOUN
A tableau is a scene, for example from history, mythology, or a religious text, that consists of a group of people in costumes who do not speak or move.
...tableaux depicting the foundation of the city.
American English: tableau
Brazilian Portuguese: presépio
Chinese: 活人画
European Spanish: cuadro vivo
French: fondation
German: Szene
Italian: quadro vivente
Japanese: 群像画
Korean: 광경
European Portuguese: presépio
Latin American Spanish: cuadro vivo
(noun)
Definition
a silent motionless group of people arranged to represent a scene from history, legend, or literature
a nativity tableau
Synonyms
picture
drawing a small picture with coloured chalks
scene
representation
a life-like representation of Christ
arrangement
spectacle
the bizarre spectacle of an actor desperately demanding an encore
Additional synonyms
in the sense of representation
Definition
anything that represents, such as a pictorial portrait
a life-like representation of Christ
Synonyms
picture,
model,
image,
portrait,
illustration,
sketch,
resemblance,
likeness
in the sense of scene
Synonyms
show,
picture,
display,
sight,
drama,
exhibition,
representation,
spectacle,
pageant,
tableau
in the sense of spectacle
Definition
a strange, interesting, or ridiculous scene
the bizarre spectacle of an actor desperately demanding an encore