meltdown
|melt/down|
B2
/ˈmɛltdaʊn/
severe failure
Etymology
Etymology Information
'meltdown' originates from the English words 'melt' and 'down', where 'melt' meant 'to become liquefied by heat' and 'down' indicated 'a downward direction'.
Historical Evolution
'melt' and 'down' combined in the 20th century to form the modern English word 'meltdown'.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it referred specifically to nuclear reactor failures, but over time it evolved to describe any severe failure or collapse.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a severe overheating of a nuclear reactor core, resulting in the melting of the core and the escape of radiation.
The nuclear plant experienced a meltdown due to a failure in the cooling system.
Synonyms
Idioms
Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:41