fade

comparative fader · superlative fadest

1. archaicWeak; insipid; tasteless.

   1825, Francis Jeffrey, Lord Jeffrey, review of Theodric by Thomas Campbell Passages that are somewhat fade.

   1 more example

   His masculine taste gave him a sense of something fade and ludicrous.

   1827, Thomas De Quincey, “The Last Days of Kant”, in Blackwood's Magazine

   Synonyms: dull

plural fades

1. golfA golf shot that curves intentionally to the player's right (if they are right-handed) or to the left (if left-handed).

   If you confine yourself to hitting straight shots while you are developing your golf swing, you are less likely to develop a preference for hitting a fade or a draw.

   2011, James Lythgoe, The Golf Swing: It's all in the hands, page 88

2. A haircut where the hair is short or shaved on the sides of the head and longer on top. See also high-top fade and low fade.

   Synonyms: skin fade

3. slangA fight.
4. broadcastingA gradual decrease in the brightness of a shot or the volume of sound or music (as a means of cutting to a new scene or starting a new song).
5. slangThe act of disappearing from a place so as not to be found; covert departure.

   Ace could have done a fade. Instead, he gathered all his courage — which was not inconsiderable, even in his middle age — and went to see the Flying Corson Brothers.

   1991, Stephen King, Needful Things

present singular third person fades · participle present fading · participle past faded · past faded · alternative obsolete vade

1. transitivegolfTo hit the ball with the shot called a fade.

   The Golden Bear faded the ball from left to right with great consistency, so he seldom had to worry about trouble on the left.

   2011, Gary McCord, Golf For Dummies, page 284

2. intransitiveTo grow weak; to lose strength; to decay; to perish gradually; to wither, as a plant.

   The earth mourneth and fadeth away.

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Isaiah 24:4

   Synonyms: weaken, wither

3. intransitiveTo lose freshness, color, or brightness; to become faint in hue or tint; hence, to be wanting in color.

   [flowers] that never fade

   1667, John Milton, “Book III”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC

   1 more example

   The half-dozen pieces […] were painted white and carved with festoons of flowers, birds and cupids. To display them the walls had been tinted a vivid blue which had now faded, but the carpet, which had evidently been stored and recently relaid, retained its original turquoise.

   1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 1, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC

   Synonyms: blanch, bleach

4. intransitiveTo sink away; to disappear gradually; to grow dim; to vanish.

   The milkman's whistling faded into the distance.

   5 more examples

   He makes a swanlike end, / Fading in music.

   c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii]

   1856, Eleanor Marx-Aveling (translator), Gustave Flaubert, Madame Bovary, Part III Chapter XI, A strange thing was that Bovary, while continually thinking of Emma, was forgetting her. He grew desperate as he felt this image fading from his memory in spite of all efforts to retain it. Yet every night he dreamt of her; it was always the same dream. He drew near her, but when he was about to clasp her she fell into decay in his arms.

   So many people have come and gone Their faces fade as the years go by

   1976 August 25, Tom Scholz, “More Than a Feeling”, in Boston, performed by Boston

   They say your love will surely fade girl When things go wrong and trouble calls

   1968 December 8, Henry Cosby, Sylvia Moy, Stevie Wonder, “I’d Be a Fool Right Now”, in For Once in My Life, performed by Stevie Wonder, Tamla Records

   And with that, I think we'll leave 2021's tail lamp to fade into the distance.

   2021 December 29, Nigel Harris, “Comment: Problems galore in 2021...”, in RAIL, number 947, page 3

   Synonyms: decrease, diminish, wane

5. transitiveTo cause to fade.
6. transitivegamblingTo bet against (someone).

   And I stood there and hollered, "Someone fade me."

   1950, Frank Loesser, Sit Down Your Rockin' the Boat

   1 more example

   I tried to get some bets that y'all were fixin' to get married but nobody would fade me.

   2016, Johnny Hughes, A Texas Beauty, Smart and Strong

comparative fader · comparative more fade · superlative fadest · superlative most fade

1. archaicStrong; bold; doughty.