fallout
/ˈfɔːlaʊt
/noun [mass noun]
1Radioactive particles that are carried into the atmosphere after a nuclear explosion and gradually fall back as dust or in precipitation: [as modifier]: a fallout shelter...
- Belarus was one of the territories affected by the radioactive fallout from the Chernobyl nuclear reactor disaster in 1986.
- These produce a relatively small explosion and less radioactive fallout than other designs.
- Winds routinely carried radioactive fallout to communities in Utah, Nevada and northern Arizona.
1.1 [usually with modifier] Airborne substances resulting from an industrial process or accident: acid fallout from power stations...
- Only in the past 5 years have scientists seriously considered that such gaseous oxidants might affect mercury fallout.
- They mainly aim at containing the fallout of carbon dioxide but fail to deal with the volume of carbon-intensive inputs in the first place.
- The dust was found on analysis to contain ‘significant quantities’ of power station fallout.
2The adverse results of a situation or action: he’s prepared to take calculated risks regardless of political fallout...
- Any unfavourable decision vis-a vis an inter-State dispute is bound to result in a political fallout.
- As well as the toll taken by the increasing use of hard drugs, there was the psychological and spiritual fallout that resulted from abuses of dignity and personal boundaries.
- The prosecutors must also consider the possible negative economic fallout that likely will result at a time when the economy is already struggling.