1. As a noun meaning a short, descriptive literary sketch:
* The novel opens with a vignette of the protagonist's childhood, setting the tone for the story.
* Her memoir is filled with vignettes of her travels around the world.
2. As a noun meaning a small decorative design, especially one used in printing:
* The book cover featured a vignette of a blooming rose.
* The old photograph had a faded vignette around the edges.
3. As a verb meaning to darken the edges of a photograph or illustration:
* The photographer chose to vignette the image, creating a more intimate feel.
* The software allowed users to vignette their pictures with different intensity levels.
4. As a verb meaning to describe something briefly or sketchily:
* The documentary vignetted the lives of several refugees seeking asylum.
* The article vignetted the key events leading up to the political crisis.
Remember: The context will usually make it clear which meaning of "vignette" is intended.