Definition
A sudden, complete emotional breakdown or loss of control, or a dangerous failure in a nuclear reactor where the core becomes too hot.
Etymology
Compound word from 'melt' (to turn from solid to liquid by heat) and 'down' (direction/collapse). Originally used for nuclear disasters in the 1960s-70s, then borrowed as a metaphor for emotional collapse.
Kelly Says
The word 'meltdown' came straight from nuclear science jargon—a nuclear core melting would be a total catastrophe—and psychologists borrowed it to describe emotional breakdowns because they're equally destructive! It's a perfect example of how technical language becomes everyday slang when people need words for intense experiences.
Translations
ARالعربية
انصهار
in-sa-har
CACatalà
fusió
foo-zee-oh
CSČeština
roztavení
ro-ztah-ve-nee
DEDeutsch
Zusammenbruch
tsu-zam-bruhkh
ELΕλληνικά
λιωσις
lee-oh-sis
ESEspañol
derretimiento
deh-reh-tee-mee-en-toh
FAفارسی
ذوب شدن
zoo-b sho-den
FISuomi
sulatus
su-la-tus
HEעברית
התמוססות
ha-ta-mo-sos-ut
HIहिन्दी
पिघलना
pi-ghal-na
HUMagyar
összeomlás
oh-ssze-oh-mlas
IDBahasa Indonesia
leleh
leh-leh
IGIG
imelodi
ee-meh-loh-dee
ITItaliano
fusione
foo-zee-oh-neh
MSBahasa Melayu
lebur
le-bur
NLNederlands
smelten
smelt-en
PTPortuguês
derretimento
deh-reh-tee-men-toh
RORomână
topire
to-pee-reh
RUРусский
разрушение
raz-ru-she-niye
SVSvenska
smältning
shmelt-ning
TAதமிழ்
உருகுதல்
uru-ku-thal
TEతెలుగు
మెల్లగా
mella-ga
THไทย
การหลอมละลาย
gaan-la-lom-la-lai
TLTL
pag-uulan
pa-gu-u-lan
UKУкраїнська
розплавлення
roz-plav-len-nya
VITiếng Việt
tan chảy
tan-chay
ZUZU
imelodi
ee-meh-loh-dee