Definition

Proper noun: - Marie Tussaud: A French wax sculptor who lived from 1761 to 1850. She is famous for creating detailed wax death masks of notable figures executed during the French Revolution. After moving to England in 1802, she toured Britain with her collection of wax models. In 1835, she established a permanent public exhibition of waxworks in London, which became the world-famous museum known as Madame Tussauds.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun:
  • The biography detailed the life of Marie Tussaud, from her early work in Paris to founding her London museum.
  • Many tourists visit the museum founded by Marie Tussaud to see lifelike figures of celebrities and historical personalities.

Advanced Usage

• "A Tussaud figure": Sometimes used to describe a person or representation that is extremely lifelike yet static, like a wax sculpture.
  • After hearing the shocking news, he stood as still as a Tussaud figure.

Variants and Related Words

• Madame Tussauds (proper noun): The name of the wax museum franchise founded by Marie Tussaud. Note: This is the modern branding and the most common reference today.
  • We bought tickets to Madame Tussauds in New York.
• Waxworks (noun): An exhibition of wax sculptures.
  • The old waxworks featured figures of kings and queens.

Synonyms

• Wax sculptor: A general term for an artist who models in wax.
• Modeler: One who creates three-dimensional representations.

Related Phrases

• "To be immortalized in wax": To have one's likeness created as a wax figure, often implying fame or notoriety.
  • The actor felt he had truly made it when he was immortalized in wax at the museum.

Noun

1. French modeler (resident in England after 1802) who made wax death masks of prominent victims of the French Revolution and toured Britain with her wax models; in 1835 she opened a permanent waxworks exhibition in London (1761-1850)