Definition of meltdown
1 : the accidental melting of the core of a nuclear reactor
2 : a rapid or disastrous decline or collapse
3 : a breakdown of self-control (as from fatigue or overstimulation)
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Examples of meltdown in a Sentence
fears that an accident could cause meltdown
a company experiencing financial meltdown
After a long day at the beach, our toddler had a major meltdown in the car on the way home.
Recent Examples of meltdown from the Web
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Then came the punch heard around Wrigleyville, with a vintage Piniella meltdown in its wake, and the Cubs suddenly woke up from their two-month slumber and went on to win the division title.
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In 1999, Ecuador suffered a financial and banking meltdown that forced millions to go to the United States and Europe looking for jobs.
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So the question remains: Why do computer meltdowns keep bringing air travel to a halt?
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With British Airways still digging out of its weekend meltdown, Ryanair Holdings Plc reported higher profit and announced plans to accelerate its European expansion.
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On March 28, 1979, the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant south of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, suffered a partial meltdown that instilled fear in hundreds of thousands of nearby residents and changed the way Americans viewed the technology.
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Meanwhile, the euroskeptic U.K. Independence Party, which was instrumental in pushing Britain toward the EU exit, is in a meltdown.
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The partial meltdown, which affected reactor number two, occurred due to mechanical malfunctions and human errors.
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Garcia stays calm whether facing historic achievement or a mini-meltdown.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'meltdown'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of meltdown
1956
MELTDOWN Defined for English Language Learners
meltdown
playDefinition of meltdown for English Language Learners
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: an accident in which the core of a nuclear reactor melts and releases radiation
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: a very fast collapse or failure
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: a very fast loss of emotional self-control
Learn More about meltdown
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See words that rhyme with meltdown Nglish: Translation of meltdown for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of meltdown for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about meltdown
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