Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A severe overheating of a nuclear reactor core, resulting in melting of the core and escape of radiation.
  • noun A disastrous situation; a failure or collapse.
  • noun Informal An emotional breakdown.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun Severe overheating of the core of a nuclear reactor resulting in the core melting and radiation escaping.
  • noun A situation being likened to a nuclear meltdown; a crisis.
  • noun figuratively A tantrum.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun severe overheating of the core of a nuclear reactor resulting in the core melting and radiation escaping
  • noun a disaster comparable to a nuclear meltdown

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