fade
fade / fād/ • v. [intr.] 1. gradually grow faint and disappear: the noise faded away. ∎ lose or cause to lose color or brightness: [intr.] [tr.] [usu. as adj.] (faded) faded jeans. ∎ (of a flower) lose freshness and wither. ∎ gradually become thin and weak, esp. to the point of death. ∎ (of a racehorse, runner, etc.) lose strength or drop back, esp. after a promising start: she faded near the finish. ∎ (of a radio signal) gradually lose intensity: the signal faded away.2. (with reference to film and television images) come or cause to come gradually into or out of view, or to merge into another shot. ∎ (with reference to recorded sound) increase or decrease in volume or merge into another recording. 3. Golf (of the ball) deviate to the right (or, for a left-handed golfer, the left), typically as a result of spin given to the ball. ∎ [tr.] cause (the ball) to move in such a way.• n. 1. the process of becoming less bright: the sun can cause color-fade. ∎ an act of causing a film or television picture to darken and disappear gradually: a fade to black. Compare with fade-out.2. Golf a shot causing the ball to deviate to the right (or, for a left-handed golfer, the left), usually purposely.PHRASAL VERBS: fade back Football move back from the scrimmage line.