What does vignette mean?
Definitions for vignette
vɪnˈyɛtvi·gnette
This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word vignette.
Princeton's WordNet
sketch, vignettenoun
a brief literary description
vignettenoun
a photograph whose edges shade off gradually
vignettenoun
a small illustrative sketch (as sometimes placed at the beginning of chapters in books)
Wiktionary
vignettenoun
A running ornament consisting of leaves and tendrils, used in Gothic architecture.
vignettenoun
A decorative design, originally representing vine branches or tendrils, at the head of a chapter, of a manuscript or printed book, or in a similar position.
vignettenoun
Any small borderless picture in a book, especially an engraving, photograph, or the like, which vanishes gradually at the edge.
vignettenoun
A short story that presents a scene or tableau, or paints a picture.
vignettenoun
The small picture on a postage stamp.
vignetteverb
To make, as an engraving or a photograph, with a border or edge gradually fading away.
Etymology: First attested in 1751. From vignette, diminutive of vigne, from vinea, from vinum. Replaced earlier vinet.
ChatGPT
vignette
A vignette is a short, descriptive scene or piece of writing that focuses on one moment or gives a particular insight into a character, idea, or setting. It's often used in literature, drama, or film to present a brief, impressionistic scene that can stand on its own or adds depth and understanding to the overall narrative. In visual arts, a vignette refers to a gentle fade-out at the border of an image. The term can also describe a brief evocative description, account, or episode in a broader context.
Webster Dictionary
Vignettenoun
a running ornament consisting of leaves and tendrils, used in Gothic architecture
Vignettenoun
a decorative design, originally representing vine branches or tendrils, at the head of a chapter, of a manuscript or printed book, or in a similar position; hence, by extension, any small picture in a book; hence, also, as such pictures are often without a definite bounding line, any picture, as an engraving, a photograph, or the like, which vanishes gradually at the edge
Vignetteverb
to make, as an engraving or a photograph, with a border or edge insensibly fading away
Etymology: [F. vignette, fr. vigne a vine. See Vine, and cf. Vinette.]
Wikidata
Vignette
In theatrical script writing, sketch stories, and poetry, a vignette is a short impressionistic scene that focuses on one moment or gives a trenchant impression about a character, idea, setting, or object. This type of scene is more common in recent postmodern theater, where less emphasis is placed on adhering to the conventions of theatrical structure and story development. Vignettes have been particularly influenced by contemporary notions of a scene as shown in film, video and television scripting. It is also a part of something bigger than itself. Like a vignette about a house belongs to a collection of vignettes or a whole story such as The House On Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros. A blog can provide a form of vignette.
Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
Vignette
vin-yet′, n. any small ornamental engraving, design, or photograph not enclosed by a definite border: (orig.) an ornamental flourish of vine leaves and tendrils on manuscripts and books.—v.t. to treat or produce in such a style.—ns. Vignett′er; Vignett′ing-glass, -pā′per, a glass frame, mask, used in printing vignette pictures; Vignett′ist, one who makes vignettes. [Fr.,—vigne—L. vinea, a vine.]
Etymology and Origins
Vignette
Expressing the French for a “little vine,” this name was given to an early style of photograph, and also to a book engraving that faced the title-page, on account of the vine leaves and tendrils that surrounded it.
Matched Categories
Usage in printed sourcesFrom:
- [["1524","18"],["1574","4"],["1680","1"],["1711","1"],["1718","1"],["1732","1"],["1750","2"],["1766","2"],["1773","1"],["1779","2"],["1780","5"],["1781","1"],["1782","3"],["1784","1"],["1785","4"],["1786","5"],["1787","20"],["1788","3"],["1789","2"],["1790","2"],["1791","3"],["1793","3"],["1794","1"],["1795","2"],["1796","5"],["1797","3"],["1798","5"],["1799","7"],["1800","9"],["1801","22"],["1802","4"],["1803","12"],["1804","20"],["1805","8"],["1806","41"],["1807","64"],["1808","16"],["1809","8"],["1810","32"],["1811","82"],["1812","42"],["1813","45"],["1814","24"],["1815","37"],["1816","33"],["1817","33"],["1818","70"],["1819","20"],["1820","89"],["1821","130"],["1822","91"],["1823","76"],["1824","156"],["1825","251"],["1826","55"],["1827","155"],["1828","146"],["1829","67"],["1830","109"],["1831","159"],["1832","87"],["1833","152"],["1834","167"],["1835","174"],["1836","670"],["1837","186"],["1838","320"],["1839","363"],["1840","206"],["1841","786"],["1842","324"],["1843","626"],["1844","271"],["1845","441"],["1846","407"],["1847","149"],["1848","299"],["1849","306"],["1850","243"],["1851","284"],["1852","217"],["1853","234"],["1854","284"],["1855","209"],["1856","396"],["1857","430"],["1858","290"],["1859","332"],["1860","186"],["1861","186"],["1862","235"],["1863","547"],["1864","177"],["1865","177"],["1866","439"],["1867","214"],["1868","327"],["1869","170"],["1870","226"],["1871","228"],["1872","216"],["1873","368"],["1874","435"],["1875","224"],["1876","241"],["1877","359"],["1878","390"],["1879","396"],["1880","387"],["1881","440"],["1882","586"],["1883","367"],["1884","429"],["1885","492"],["1886","242"],["1887","613"],["1888","348"],["1889","271"],["1890","346"],["1891","491"],["1892","500"],["1893","403"],["1894","644"],["1895","462"],["1896","453"],["1897","454"],["1898","410"],["1899","449"],["1900","665"],["1901","441"],["1902","593"],["1903","864"],["1904","966"],["1905","699"],["1906","1217"],["1907","589"],["1908","363"],["1909","342"],["1910","412"],["1911","486"],["1912","360"],["1913","251"],["1914","301"],["1915","369"],["1916","168"],["1917","301"],["1918","143"],["1919","269"],["1920","226"],["1921","584"],["1922","385"],["1923","315"],["1924","535"],["1925","478"],["1926","353"],["1927","437"],["1928","479"],["1929","289"],["1930","340"],["1931","310"],["1932","278"],["1933","596"],["1934","387"],["1935","232"],["1936","284"],["1937","297"],["1938","330"],["1939","263"],["1940","234"],["1941","261"],["1942","247"],["1943","190"],["1944","273"],["1945","242"],["1946","324"],["1947","653"],["1948","557"],["1949","502"],["1950","517"],["1951","532"],["1952","584"],["1953","589"],["1954","554"],["1955","439"],["1956","676"],["1957","486"],["1958","764"],["1959","667"],["1960","638"],["1961","734"],["1962","921"],["1963","917"],["1964","860"],["1965","1030"],["1966","1268"],["1967","1406"],["1968","1591"],["1969","1623"],["1970","1697"],["1971","1796"],["1972","1831"],["1973","2296"],["1974","1775"],["1975","1863"],["1976","2286"],["1977","2168"],["1978","2376"],["1979","2717"],["1980","2691"],["1981","2391"],["1982","3227"],["1983","3576"],["1984","3409"],["1985","3513"],["1986","3343"],["1987","3495"],["1988","3673"],["1989","4708"],["1990","5256"],["1991","4576"],["1992","5343"],["1993","5796"],["1994","7104"],["1995","6520"],["1996","7134"],["1997","8435"],["1998","8857"],["1999","9473"],["2000","9562"],["2001","11119"],["2002","10951"],["2003","11806"],["2004","13299"],["2005","14091"],["2006","14583"],["2007","15910"],["2008","16291"]]
Numerology
Chaldean Numerology
The numerical value of vignette in Chaldean Numerology is: 6
Pythagorean Numerology
The numerical value of vignette in Pythagorean Numerology is: 3
Examples of vignette in a Sentence
In an ironic vignette, at a healthcare facility dedicated to serving blind veterans—the new Palo Alto Polytrauma and Blind Rehabilitation Center—the agency wasted $670,000 on two sculptures no blind veteran can even see, the ‘Helmick Sculpture’ cost $385,000 (2014) and a parking garage exterior wall faade by King Ray Studio for the ‘design, fabrication, and installation of the public artwork’ cost $285,000 (2014).
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References
Translations for vignette
From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary
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"vignette." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2025. Web. 16 Jan. 2025. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/vignette>.
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