# tableau

/təˈbɫoʊ/ (US) · /tˈæbləʊ/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/tableau
Updated: 2026-05-19

## Definition

a frozen image or scene that looks like a painting. You use this to describe a moment where everyone stops moving to create a perfect picture.

For teachers: a frozen scene or arrangement of people or objects that resembles a painting. Often used to describe a moment in a play or a formal portrait.

## Examples

- The children formed a beautiful tableau of the family.
- The director asked the actors to hold their final positions to create a dramatic tableau for the closing scene.
- The photographer captured a tableau of the city's skyline at dawn, where the morning mist created a sense of stillness that felt almost like a painting.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.