fade

Universal Words verb 1 to become or to make sth become paler or less bright: [V] All colour had faded from the sky. * The curtains had faded in the sun. * [VN] The sun had faded the curtains. * He was wearing faded blue jeans. 2 [V] ~ (away) to disappear gradually: Her smile faded. * Hopes of reaching an agreement seem to be fading away. * His voice faded to a whisper (= gradually became quieter). * The laughter faded away. * All other issues fade into insignificance compared with the struggle for survival. * Summer was fading into autumn. 3 if a sports player, team, actor, etc. fades, they stop playing or performing as well as they did before: Black faded on the final bend. IDIOMS see WOODWORK PHRASALVERBS fade away (of a person) to become very weak or ill/sick and die: In the last weeks of her life she simply faded away. fade in / out to become clearer or louder / less clear or quieter: George saw the monitor black out and then a few words faded in. fade sth in / out to make a picture or a sound clearer or louder / less clear or quieter: Fade out the music at the end of the scene.