fade
♦ fade /f'eɪd/ (fades fading faded)
1 [VERB] V, V n, V-ing
When a coloured object fades or when the light fades it, it gradually becomes paler.
All colour fades-especially under the impact of direct sunlight...
No matter how soft the light is, it still plays havoc, fading carpets and curtains in every room.
...fading portraits of the Queen and Prince Philip.
● faded [ADJ]
...a girl in a faded dress.
...faded painted signs on the sides of some of the buildings.
2 [VERB] V, V into n
When light fades, it slowly becomes less bright. When a sound fades, it slowly becomes less loud.
Seaton lay on his bed and gazed at the ceiling as the light faded...
The sound of the last bomber's engines faded into the distance.
3 [VERB] V from/into n, V from/into n
When something that you are looking at fades, it slowly becomes less bright or clear until it disappears.
They observed the comet for 70 days before it faded from sight...
They watched the familiar mountains fade into the darkness.
[PHRASAL VERB] V P into n, also V P
Fade away means the same as fade.
We watched the harbour and then the coastline fade away into the morning mist.
4 [VERB] V, V-ing
If memories, feelings, or possibilities fade, they slowly become less intense or less strong.
Sympathy for the rebels, the government claims, is beginning to fade...
...fading memories of better days.fade out
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P, also V P of n
When something fades out, it slowly becomes less noticeable or less important until it disappears completely.
He thought her campaign would probably fade out soon in any case.
= fizzle out
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P, also V P of n
When light, an image, or a sound fades out, it disappears after gradually becoming weaker.
You'll need to be able to project two images onto the screen as the new one fades in and the old image fades out.
1 [VERB] V, V n, V-ing
When a coloured object fades or when the light fades it, it gradually becomes paler.
All colour fades-especially under the impact of direct sunlight...
No matter how soft the light is, it still plays havoc, fading carpets and curtains in every room.
...fading portraits of the Queen and Prince Philip.
● faded [ADJ]
...a girl in a faded dress.
...faded painted signs on the sides of some of the buildings.
2 [VERB] V, V into n
When light fades, it slowly becomes less bright. When a sound fades, it slowly becomes less loud.
Seaton lay on his bed and gazed at the ceiling as the light faded...
The sound of the last bomber's engines faded into the distance.
3 [VERB] V from/into n, V from/into n
When something that you are looking at fades, it slowly becomes less bright or clear until it disappears.
They observed the comet for 70 days before it faded from sight...
They watched the familiar mountains fade into the darkness.
[PHRASAL VERB] V P into n, also V P
Fade away means the same as fade.
We watched the harbour and then the coastline fade away into the morning mist.
4 [VERB] V, V-ing
If memories, feelings, or possibilities fade, they slowly become less intense or less strong.
Sympathy for the rebels, the government claims, is beginning to fade...
...fading memories of better days.fade out
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P, also V P of n
When something fades out, it slowly becomes less noticeable or less important until it disappears completely.
He thought her campaign would probably fade out soon in any case.
= fizzle out
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P, also V P of n
When light, an image, or a sound fades out, it disappears after gradually becoming weaker.
You'll need to be able to project two images onto the screen as the new one fades in and the old image fades out.