tableau

play

noun tab·leau \ˈta-ˌblō, ta-ˈblō\

Definition of tableau

plural

tableaux

play \-ˌblōz, -ˈblōz\ also

tableaus

1 : a graphic description or representation : picture winsome tableaux of old-fashioned literary days — J. D. Hart
2 : a striking or artistic grouping : arrangement, scene
3 [short for tableau vivant (from French, literally, living picture)] : a depiction of a scene usually presented on a stage by silent and motionless costumed participants

See tableau defined for English-language learners

See tableau defined for kids

Examples of tableau in a Sentence

The houses are grouped together in a charming tableau.

Recent Examples of tableau from the Web

Rather than simply imitating birdsong, though, Messiaen envisioned full portraits of nature scenes, whether pastoral tableaux or instrumental renderings of interspecies confrontations.

— peter margasak, Chicago Reader, "Great French pianist Pierre-Laurent Aimard plays Messiaen’s monumental study of birdsong, Catalogue D’oiseaux," 20 July 2017
As leaders gathered at a summit hall in Hamburg for a group photo, Trump and Putin stood on opposite sides of the tableau.

— darlene superville and ken thomas, The Christian Science Monitor, "Grins and handshakes as Trump meets Putin at leaders' retreat," 7 July 2017
The dresses flutter, the crickets hum and the cast poses for a final soft tableau, the faces and fabrics seeming to shimmer in the sunlight.

— moira macdonald, charlotteobserver, "Movie review: In ‘The Beguiled,’ a girls school turns out to be an unsafe refuge," 28 June 2017
The dresses flutter, the crickets hum and the cast poses for a final soft tableau, the faces and fabrics seeming to shimmer in the sunlight.

— moira macdonald, The Seattle Times, "Review: In ‘The Beguiled,’ a girls school turns out to be an unsafe refuge," 27 June 2017
The photos are a fascinating tableau of John Wayne’s life on the sea.

— yohana desta, Vanities, "When John Wayne Traveled the Sea with Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and His Family," 16 June 2017
The photos are a fascinating tableau of John Wayne’s life on the sea.

— vanityfair.com, VanityFair.com, "When John Wayne Traveled the Sea with Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and His Family," 16 June 2017
The props are used to create tableaux in her subjects’ homes.

— maria l. la ganga, idahostatesman, "What happens when a renowned stylist visits your home? Go behind the scenes with Fifi O’Neill," 10 June 2017
A few months after his death, his family decided Bible Land’s tableaux were deteriorating beyond recognition.

— logan jenkins, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Fair sculptors stir memories of Rainbow's Sand Man," 9 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'tableau.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of tableau

French, from Middle French tablel, diminutive of table, from Old French

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1660

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TABLEAU Defined for English Language Learners

tableau

play

noun

Definition of tableau for English Language Learners

: a view or sight that looks like a picture
: a scene that typically shows an event in history or literature and that is created on a stage by a group of people who are dressed in costumes and who do not speak or move