meltdown

Plural: meltdowns

Noun

• A severe and rapid collapse or failure of an organization or system.
• severe overheating of the core of a nuclear reactor resulting in the core melting and radiation escaping
• a disaster comparable to a nuclear meltdown
  • "there is little likelihood of a meltdown comparable to the American banking collapse in March 1933"
• Severe overheating of the core of a nuclear reactor resulting in the core melting and potentially in radiation escaping.
• A situation being likened to a nuclear meltdown; a crisis.
• A tantrum or emotional outburst.
• An autistic response to stress or sensory overload, in which the person is overwhelmed by intense, seemingly disproportionate emotions, behaving erratically and becoming unable to mask.

Examples

• After placing an ’X’ on a triple-word, his opponent had a complete Scrabble MELTDOWN.

Synonyms

nuclear meltdown, tantrum

Related Words

China syndrome