fade

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To slowly lose color or brightness.

   The curtains had faded in the sunlight over the years.

2. 2
   verb

   To gradually grow weaker, fainter, or disappear.

   The sound of the music faded into the distance.

3. 3
   verb

   To lose strength or freshness, as a plant does when it dies.

   The flowers in the vase began to fade after a week.

From Middle English fade, vad, vade (“faded, pale, withered, weak”), from Middle Dutch vade (“weak, faint, limp”), from Old French fade (“weak, witless”), of obscure origin. Probably from Vulgar Latin *fatidus, from Latin fatuus (“insipid”).

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