fade-out
UK[ˈfeɪd aʊt]US[ˈfeɪd aʊt]
n
a gradual decrease in the visibility or audibility of a scene or sound, especially in film, television, or music.
n
a gradual disappearance or cessation.
Morpheme Breakdown
fade
out
fade
to lose brightness or volume
out
to an end or conclusion
Etymology
The term 'fade-out' is a modern compound, originating in the early 20th century from the vocabulary of the film and broadcasting industries. It is built from the verb 'fade', which carries a sense of weakening or diminishing, a meaning that evolved from earlier notions of becoming insipid or losing vigor. The adverbial particle 'out' intensifies this direction, implying a movement towards a final state of invisibility or inaudibility. Thus, the literal logic of "fading to an end" perfectly captures the technical process of a gradual disappearance on screen or in sound, a meaning later extended to any gradual cessation.
Analysis
Structure: fade (to lose brightness or volume) + out (to an end or conclusion)
fade: From Middle English 'faden', from Old French 'fader', of uncertain origin, possibly from Vulgar Latin fatidus, a blend of Latin fatuus (foolish, insipid) and vapidus (flat, tasteless). In this compound, it functions as the verb root meaning to lose strength, brightness, or distinctness.
out: From Old English ūt (out, outside, without), from Proto-Germanic ūt. In this compound, it functions as an adverbial particle indicating a direction towards completion, disappearance, or cessation.
Examples
The scene ended with a slow fade-out to black.
The song's fade-out lasted for nearly twenty seconds.
After the scandal, the actor experienced a gradual fade-out from public life.