If there is meltdown in a nuclear reactor, the fuel rods start melting because of a failure in the system, and radiation starts to escape.
Emergency cooling systems could fail and a reactor meltdown could occur.
2. uncountable noun
The meltdown of a company, organization, or system is its sudden and complete failure.
[journalism]
Urgent action is needed to prevent the market going into financial meltdown.
meltdown in British English
(ˈmɛltˌdaʊn)
noun
1.
(in a nuclear reactor) the melting of the fuel rods as a result of a defect in the cooling system, with the possible escape of radiation into the environment
2. informal
a sudden disastrous failure with potential for widespread harm, as a stock-exchange crash
3. informal
the process or state of irreversible breakdown or decline
the community is slowly going into meltdown
meltdown in American English
(ˈmɛltˌdaʊn)
noun
1.
a situation in which a rapid rise in the power level of a nuclear reactor, as from a defect in the cooling system,results in the melting of the fuel rods and the release of dangerous radiation and may cause the core to sink into the earth
2.
a decline or breakdown in a situation or condition
COBUILD Collocations
meltdown
complete meltdown
global meltdown
Examples of 'meltdown' in a sentence
meltdown
So there is mounting concern at the top of government about how close to meltdown the prison system is.
The Sun (2016)
Money men increasingly fear we may be sliding towards a fresh global meltdown, this time without the cash reserves to bail us out.
The Sun (2016)
One of the old issues that surfaced for me was a fear of financial meltdown.
Christianity Today (2000)
You need to quit the habit before a complete meltdown.
The Sun (2008)
We only just kept the system from meltdown.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Who does he blame for the economic meltdown?
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Finally she returns to confront a family and a country in meltdown.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
And there were fears of a new financial meltdown at the club.
The Sun (2009)
What we inherited was a situation that was in a complete and utter meltdown and mess.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Defeat overloaded his system and caused meltdown.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
So just two more days until complete social media meltdown.
The Sun (2015)
Greece has suffered as people move money elsewhere to avoid having it seized as the country goes into meltdown.
The Sun (2015)
The tsunami that struck Japan last year brought an advanced economy to the brink of nuclear meltdown.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Set against the backdrop of global economic meltdown, it seems shocking.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
In the homes of the bankers affected, a meltdown will be occurring.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Today he will take on the puny plotters and spell out how to save Britain from economic meltdown.
The Sun (2008)
Are the reactors in meltdown?
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Inevitably, the threat of reactors going into meltdown and radiation leaks has led to the whole nuclear power industry being called into question.
The Sun (2011)
THE gold price soared to an all-time high last night on fears of a global meltdown.
The Sun (2011)
Officials admitted it was'highly likely' a partial meltdown had already occurred.
The Sun (2011)
More regulation did not stop New York becoming the centre of the global meltdown.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
In other languages
meltdown
British English: meltdown NOUN
reactor If there is meltdown in a nuclear reactor, the fuel rods start melting because of a failure in the system, and radiation starts to escape.
Emergency cooling systems could fail and a reactor meltdown could occur.
American English: meltdown
Brazilian Portuguese: fusão
Chinese: > 堆芯熔毁核反应堆的
European Spanish: fusiónde un reactor nuclear
French: fusion
German: Kernschmelze
Italian: melt down
Japanese: 炉心溶融
Korean: > 용융원자로의
European Portuguese: fusão
Latin American Spanish: fusión
British English: meltdown NOUN
failure The meltdown of a company, organization, or system is its sudden and complete failure.
Urgent talks are going on to prevent the market going into financial meltdown during the summer.