Definition of meltdown

meltdownnoun

sự tan chảy

/ˈmeltdaʊn//ˈmeltdaʊn/

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.

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a serious accident in which the central part of a nuclear reactor melts, causing harmful radiation to escape

một tai nạn nghiêm trọng trong đó phần trung tâm của lò phản ứng hạt nhân tan chảy, khiến bức xạ có hại thoát ra ngoài

a situation where something fails or becomes weaker in a sudden or dramatic way

một tình huống mà một cái gì đó thất bại hoặc trở nên yếu đi một cách đột ngột hoặc kịch tính

Example:
  • The country is in economic meltdown.

    Đất nước đang trong tình trạng suy thoái kinh tế.

  • a meltdown on the New York Stock Exchange

    sự sụp đổ trên Sàn giao dịch chứng khoán New York

a situation in which somebody becomes very upset and cannot control their behaviour

một tình huống mà ai đó trở nên rất khó chịu và không thể kiểm soát hành vi của mình

Example:
  • The toddler had a total meltdown when her mum said she had to leave the playground.

    Cô bé đã hoàn toàn suy sụp khi mẹ cô bé bảo cô bé phải rời khỏi sân chơi.

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