Meltdown

noun, slang

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    Severe overheating of the core of a nuclear reactor resulting in the core melting and potentially in radiation escaping. countable, uncountable

    "Four years have passed since the meltdown at the Chernobyl nuclear plant, but the grim legacy of the Soviet catastrophe is still unfolding."

  2. 2
    a disaster comparable to a nuclear meltdown wordnet
  3. 3
    A situation being likened to a nuclear meltdown; a crisis. countable, uncountable

    "Channel 4 switchboards went into meltdown this week when viewers called to complain about a Brass Eye programme on child sex."

  4. 4
    severe overheating of the core of a nuclear reactor resulting in the core melting and radiation escaping wordnet
  5. 5
    A tantrum or emotional outburst. countable, informal, uncountable

    "I had a major meltdown at work today. After being instructed one more time about additional work that I was to delegate to my direct reports, I snapped, but in a very polite manner."

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  1. 6
    An autistic response to stress or sensory overload, in which the person is overwhelmed by intense, seemingly disproportionate emotions, behaving erratically and becoming unable to mask. countable, uncountable

    "Now if I am really anxious, I can take a moment to think about what is making me anxious and what to do about it; before I would just spiral into a meltdown really quickly, with no understanding of why."

Etymology

Deverbal from melt down.

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