[fade] vb fad.ed ; fad.ing [ME, fr. MF fader, fr. fade feeble, insipid, fr. (assumed) VL fatidus, alter. of L fatuus fatuous, insipid] vi (14c) 1: to lose freshness, strength, or vitality: wither
2: to lose freshness or brilliance of color
3: to sink away: vanish
4: to change gradually in loudness, strength, or visibility--used of a motion-picture image or of an electronics signal and usu. with in or out
5. of an automobile brake: to lose braking power gradually
6: to move back from the line of scrimmage--used of a quarterback ~ vt: to cause to fade -- fad.er n
[2]fade n (1918) 1 a: fade-out b: a gradual changing of one picture to another in a motion-picture or television sequence
2: a fading of an automobile brake
3: a slight to moderate and usu. intentional slice in golf [3]fade adj [ME, fr. MF] (15c): insipid, commonplace