tableau

[ta-bloh, tab-loh] /tæˈbloʊ, ˈtæb loʊ/
noun, plural tableaux
[ta-blohz, tab-lohz] /tæˈbloʊz, ˈtæb loʊz/ (Show IPA), 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.
Origin
1690-1700; < French: board, picture, Middle French tablel, diminutive of table table
Examples from the web for tableau
  • Perhaps that tableau marks me as hopelessly old-media.
  • The resulting frozen-in-time tableau has attracted travelers for centuries.
  • The tableau neatly captured the essence of this city in winter.
  • Above the entrance, the company sign is a tableau of peeling paint.
  • First, before the table is set, a few words to explain the tableau.
  • For a few seconds the incident played out in tableau on the opposite sidewalk.
  • Out of this tableau of darkness have come some fleeting rays of light.
  • For half an hour, a sense of taboo hung over the stark tableau.
  • The tableau could have been created by an artist imagining how the world looked millions of years ago.
  • They can be scattered or grouped in a sweet tableau.
British Dictionary definitions for tableau

tableau

/ˈtæbləʊ/
noun (pl) -leaux (-ləʊ; -ləʊz), -leaus
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
Word Origin
C17: from French, from Old French tablel a picture, diminutive of table
Word Origin and History for tableau
n.

1690s, "a picturesque or graphic description or picture," from French tableau "picture, painting," from Old French table "slab, writing tablet" (see table (n.)) + diminutive suffix -eau, from Latin -ellus. Hence tableau-vivant (1817) "person or persons silent and motionless, enacting a well-known scene, incident, painting, etc.," popular 19c. parlor game, literally "living picture."