meltdown

Language: en

🇺🇸 /ˈmɛˌltdaʊn/

📖 Definitions

  1. noun
    A severe accident in a nuclear reactor in which the core overheats and the fuel rods melt, potentially releasing radioactive material.; A complete failure or collapse, especially of a system, organization, or plan.; An emotional outburst or loss of self-control, often due to overwhelming stress or frustration.; A situation in which a person becomes extremely angry, upset, or unable to cope.

🔗 Details

Word forms

countable Plural: meltdowns 3rd sing.: meltdowns Past: meltdowned Past part.: meltdowned Pres part.: meltdowning

Collocations

nuclear meltdownemotional meltdownmarket meltdownhave a meltdowncomplete meltdowntotal meltdown

Derivatives

melt down

Synonyms

collapsebreakdowncrisisdisastercatastrophe

Antonyms

recoverystabilization

Commonly confused

melt down
EN: 'Melt down' (two words) is the phrasal verb meaning to collapse or lose control; 'meltdown' (one word) is the noun referring to the event itself.

Spelling tips

EN: Remember that 'meltdown' is one word as a noun, but 'melt down' is two words when used as a verb (e.g., 'The reactor melted down' vs. 'There was a meltdown').

💬 Examples

  1. The Chernobyl disaster involved a catastrophic nuclear meltdown.

  2. The financial markets experienced a meltdown in 2008.

  3. The toddler had a meltdown in the supermarket when denied candy.

  4. After weeks of pressure, the manager had a complete meltdown during the meeting.