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To fade is defined as to become less bright, to grow more faint, less popular, or less strong, or to begin to wither away and disappear.

(verb)

When a color that is dark begins to get lighter and less bright, this is an example of a time when the color fades.
When the sun goes down at nighttime, this is an example of a time when sunlight fades.
When a television signal gets less clear, this is an example of a time when the signal fades.
When the popularity of a fad begins to wane, this is an example of a time when the fad fades.
When you start to become old and sick, this is an example of a time when your health fades.

Fade is defined as the process of becoming less bright or disappearing gradually.

(noun)

When a color begins to grow less bright, this process is an example of color fade.
When a television picture starts to go dark, this is an example of a fade to black.

See fade in Webster's New World College Dictionary

intransitive verb faded, fading

to become less distinct; lose color, brilliance, etc.
to lose freshness or strength; wither; wane
to disappear slowly; die out
to lose braking power: said of brakes that heat and glaze the lining in repeated hard use
to curve from its direct course
Radio, TV to vary in intensity: said of a signal

Origin: ME faden < OFr fader < fade, pale < VL *fatidus, prob. < L fatuus (see fatuous); infl. by vapidus, vapid

transitive verb

to cause to fade
☆ Slang to meet the bet of; cover: a dice player's term
Golf to deliberately cause (a ball) to slice slightly

noun

the act of fading
Film, Radio, TV a fade-in or fade-out
Golf the path of a ball that is faded or that slices slightly

See fade in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb fad·ed, fad·ing, fades

verb, intransitive

To lose brightness, loudness, or brilliance gradually; dim: The lights and music faded as we set sail from the harbor.
To lose freshness; wither: summer flowers that had faded.
To lose strength or vitality; wane: youthful energy that had faded over the years.
To disappear gradually; vanish: a hope that faded. See Synonyms at disappear.
Sports To swerve from a straight course, especially in the direction of a slice.
Football To move back from the line of scrimmage. Used of a quarterback.

verb, transitive

To cause to lose brightness, freshness, or strength: Exposure to sunlight has faded the carpet.
Sports To hit (a golf ball, for instance) with a moderate, usually controlled slice.
Games To meet the bet of (an opposing player) in dice.

noun

A gradual diminution or increase in the brightness or visibility of an image in cinema or television.
A periodic reduction in the received strength of a radio transmission.
Sports A moderate, usually controlled slice, as in golf.

Phrasal Verbs: fade in To appear gradually. To cause to appear or be heard gradually. Used of a cinematic or television image or of a sound. fade out To disappear gradually. To cause to disappear gradually. Used of a cinematic or television image or of a sound.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English faden

Origin: , from Old French fader

Origin: , from fade, faded

Origin: , probably from Vulgar Latin *fatidus

Origin: , alteration of Latin fatuus, insipid

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