meltdown
noun
Simple meaning
A tantrum or emotional outburst.
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
mehltdownSay the bold part a little louder.
IPA pronunciation (US)
ˈmɛltdaʊn
This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
noun
A disaster comparable to a nuclear meltdown
“There is little likelihood of a meltdown comparable to the American banking collapse in March 1933.”
A situation being likened to a nuclear meltdown; a crisis.
informal
A tantrum or emotional outburst.
Severe overheating of the core of a nuclear reactor resulting in the core melting and radiation escaping
Word at a Glance
- Difficulty
- C1 · Advanced (estimated)
- Frequency
- Uncommon
- Typical Use
- Primarily written
More ways to use meltdown
- “There is little likelihood of a meltdown comparable to the American banking collapse in March 1933.”noun
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Common Patterns and Combinations
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Word Family
Related forms, grouped by how they connect.
Compound terms
Established multiword terms.
Severe overheating of the core of a nuclear reactor resulting in the core melting and radiation escaping.
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