/ feɪd; NAmE / 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 ] fade (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.
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
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- fade away
- fade in / out
- fade sth in / out
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English (in the sense grow weak : from Old French fader , from fade dull, insipid, probably based on a blend of Latin fatuus silly, insipid and vapidus vapid.