tableau (redirected from tableaux)

tab·leau  (tbl, t-bl)

n. pl. tab·leaux or tab·leaus (tblz, t-blz)

1. A vivid or graphic description: The movie was a tableau of a soldier's life.

2. A striking incidental scene, as of a picturesque group of people: "New public figures suddenly abound in the hitherto faceless totalitarian tableaux" John McLaughlin.

3. An interlude during a scene when all the performers on stage freeze in position and then resume action as before.

4. A tableau vivant.

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[French, from Old French tablel, diminutive of table, surface prepared for painting; see table.]

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tableau [tab-loh, -loh]

Noun

pl -leaux a silent motionless group of people arranged to represent a scene from history, legend, or literature [French]

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Tableau a group of persons and props used to produce a picturesque effect, 1813.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	tableau - a group of people attractively arranged (as if in a painting) tableau vivant arrangement - an orderly grouping (of things or persons) considered as a unit; the result of arranging; "a flower arrangement"
	2.	tableau - any dramatic scene panorama, vista, view, aspect, scene, prospect - the visual percept of a region; "the most desirable feature of the park are the beautiful views"

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tableau

noun picture, scene, representation, arrangement, spectacle