Operate audiovisual reels to fade? (9)

I believe the answer is:

evaporate

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'to fade?' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

I don't understand how the remainder of the clue works.

(Other definitions for evaporate that I've seen before include "Turn from liquid to vapour" , "Fade away gradually" , "Go from liquid to vapour" , "Melt away" , "(Of abstract thing) cease to exist" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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