The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Tableau \Ta`bleau"\ (t[.a]`bl[=o]" E. t[a^]b"l[=o]`; 277), n.;
   pl. Tableaux (t[.a]`bl[=o]" E. t[a^]b"l[=o]z`). [F., dim.
   fr. L. tabula a painting. See Table.]
   1. A striking and vivid representation; a picture.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. A representation of some scene by means of persons grouped
      in the proper manner, placed in appropriate postures, and
      remaining silent and motionless.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. (Solitaire) The arrangement, or layout, of cards.
      [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

tableau
    n 1: a group of people attractively arranged (as if in a
         painting) [syn: tableau, tableau vivant]
    2: any dramatic scene

Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:

178 Moby Thesaurus words for "tableau":
   Grand Guignol, Passion play, Tom show, abstract, abstraction,
   act drop, altarpiece, antimasque, arrangement, asbestos,
   asbestos board, audience success, backdrop, ballet, batten,
   block print, bomb, border, broadcast drama, burlesque show,
   charade, cliff hanger, closet drama, cloth, collage, color print,
   comedy drama, composition, copy, cosmorama, coulisse,
   counterweight, critical success, curtain, curtain board, cyclorama,
   daub, daytime serial, decor, dialogue, diorama, diptych, display,
   documentary drama, drama, dramalogue, dramatic play,
   dramatic series, drop, drop curtain, duodrama, duologue, effect,
   engraving, epic theater, exhibit, exhibition, experimental theater,
   exposition, extravaganza, failure, fire curtain, flat, flipper,
   flop, fresco, gasser, georama, giveaway, grouping, hanging,
   happening, hit, hit show, icon, illumination, illustration, image,
   improvisational drama, legitimate drama, light show, likeness,
   masque, melodrama, miniature, minstrel show, miracle, miracle play,
   monodrama, monologue, montage, morality, morality play, mosaic,
   mural, music drama, musical revue, myriorama, mystery,
   mystery play, opera, pageant, pageantry, panel show, panorama,
   pantomime, parade, pastoral, pastoral drama, phantasmagoria,
   photograph, picture, piece, play, playlet, pomp, presentation,
   print, problem play, psychedelic show, psychodrama, quiz show,
   radio drama, rag, representation, reproduction, review, revue,
   scene, scenery, screen, sensational play, serial, shifting scene,
   show, side scene, sight, sitcom, situation comedy, sketch, skit,
   soap, soap opera, sociodrama, spectacle, stage play, stage screw,
   stage show, stained glass window, stencil, still life,
   straight drama, success, suspense drama, tab, tableau vivant,
   talk show, tapestry, teaser, teleplay, television drama,
   television play, theater of cruelty, tormentor, total theater,
   transformation, transformation scene, triptych, variety show,
   vaudeville, vaudeville show, vehicle, wall painting, wing, wingcut,
   woodcut, word-of-mouth success, work