fade
Pronunciation: (fād), [key] — v., n. fad•ed, fad•ing,
—v.i. - to lose brightness or vividness of color.
- to become dim, as light, or lose brightness of illumination.
- to lose freshness, vigor, strength, or health: The tulips have faded.
- to disappear or die gradually (often fol. by away or out): His anger faded away.
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- to appear gradually, esp. by becoming lighter (usually fol. by in).
- to disappear gradually, esp. by becoming darker (usually fol. by out).
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- to increase gradually in volume of sound, as in recording or broadcasting music, dialogue, etc. (usually fol. by in).
- to decrease gradually in volume of sound (usually fol. by out).
- (of an offensive back, esp. a quarterback) to move back toward one's own goal line, usually with the intent to pass, after receiving the snapback from center or a hand-off or lateral pass behind the line of scrimmage (usually fol. by back): The quarterback was tackled while fading back for a pass.
- (of an automotive brake) to undergo brake fade.
—v.t. - to cause to fade: Sunshine faded the drapes.
- (in dice throwing) to make a wager against (the caster).
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- to cause (a scene) to appear gradually (usually fol. by in).
- to cause (a scene) to disappear gradually (usually fol. by out).
- to cause (the volume of sound) to increase or decrease gradually (usually fol. by in or out).
—n. - an act or instance of fading.
- a fade-out.
- See
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.