Definition of meltdown

The word "meltdown" has its roots in the mid-20th century, during the Cold War era. In the 1950s and 1960s, the term "meltdown" was used in the context of nuclear reactions, particularly in reference to the catastrophic collapse of a nuclear reactor's coolant system, resulting in a rapid and uncontrolled release of heat and radioactivity. The term is thought to have originated from the idea that the reactor's fuel rods were melting down, much like a metal alloy melts when heated. The concept of a nuclear meltdown gained widespread attention after the Three Mile Island accident in 1979 and the Chernobyl disaster in 1986, both of which highlighted the devastating consequences of such an event. Since then, the term "meltdown" has been extended to describe other situations where something unplanned and catastrophic occurs, such as a financial crisis or a personal emotional breakdown.