meltdown

Definition

Severe overheating of the core of a nuclear reactor resulting in the core melting and potentially in radiation escaping.

Etymology

Deverbal from melt down.

Example Sentences

• "Four years have passed since the meltdown at the Chernobyl nuclear plant, but the grim legacy of the Soviet catastrophe is still unfolding."
• "Channel 4 switchboards went into meltdown this week when viewers called to complain about a Brass Eye programme on child sex."
• "Computer engineers were at a loss last night to explain why the Government had been hit by arguably the worst electronic meltdown in the history of Whitehall."