vignette: Meaning and Definition of

vi•gnette

Pronunciation: (vin-yet'), [key]
— n., v., -gnet•ted, -gnet•ting.
—n.
  1. a decorative design or small illustration used on the title page of a book or at the beginning or end of a chapter.
  2. an engraving, drawing, photograph, or the like that is shaded off gradually at the edges so as to leave no definite line at the border.
  3. a decorative design representing branches, leaves, grapes, or the like, as in a manuscript.
  4. any small, pleasing picture or view.
  5. a small, graceful literary sketch.
—v.t.
  1. to finish (a picture, photograph, etc.) in the manner of a vignette.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
See also: