Record phone fading (8)
I believe the answer is:
tapering
'record phone fading' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both acts as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps there's an association between them I don't understand?
'record phone' is the wordplay.
'record' becomes 'tape' (synonyms).
'phone' becomes 'ring' (to ring on the phone).
'tape'+'ring'='TAPERING'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for tapering that I've seen before include "Becoming less" , "Becoming gradually narrower like some candles (8)" , "getting less and less" , "thinning out" , "Narrowing to a point" .)