meltdown

noun

1. 1

   An act or process of melting.

2. 2

   An act or process of melting. Severe uncontrolled overheating and melting of the fuel in the core of a nuclear reactor, with the potential for radiation to escape; (countable) an instance of this.

3. 3

   rareA mass of melted material.

4. 4

   figurativeChiefly preceded by a descriptive word: uncontrolled disorder which often has disastrous consequences; (countable) a situation involving this; a crisis.

   Channel 4 switchboards went into meltdown this week when viewers called to complain about a Brass Eye programme on child sex.

   Computer engineers were at a loss last night to explain why the Government had been hit by arguably the worst electronic meltdown in the history of Whitehall.

5. 5

   figurativeChiefly preceded by a descriptive word: uncontrolled disorder which often has disastrous consequences; (countable) a situation involving this; a crisis. Synonym of crash (“a sudden large decline in the value of money, stocks or other assets, etc., especially one that causes additional economic difficulties”).

6. 6

   figurative(Sudden) loss of control over one's behaviour, emotions, etc.; (countable) an instance of this. An emotional outburst; a fit, a tantrum.

7. 7

   figurative(Sudden) loss of control over one's behaviour, emotions, etc.; (countable) an instance of this. A response to sensory overload or stress, in which an autistic person is overwhelmed by intense, seemingly disproportionate emotions, behaving erratically and becoming unable to mask (“act more neurotypically”).

   I was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome in my forties. […] Now if I am really anxious, I can take a moment to think about what is making me anxious and what to do about it; before I would just spiral into a meltdown really quickly, with no understanding of why.

   As the brain starts becoming overwhelmed with stress chemicals, it has two primary ways of responding. […] [I]f the accumulation of stress chemicals, stimulation and/or demands are occurring too fast or are too intense to block out, then a meltdown is probable.

   If you're experiencing challenges that are extremely stressful and may lead you to being overwhelmed, or set off a meltdown in the workplace, this may be very concerning to your work colleagues.

8. 8

   figurative(Sudden) loss of control over one's behaviour, emotions, etc.; (countable) an instance of this. Synonym of nervous breakdown (“an attack of a psychological disorder such as anxiety or depression which is so severe that it prevents a person from continuing to function normally”); also (loosely), a situation where one is unable to function mentally due to panic, stress, etc.

   I had a major meltdown at work today. After being instructed one more time about additional work that I was to delegate to my direct reports, I snapped, but in a very polite manner. I excused myself from the boss' office and broke down completely in my cubicle.

   After the huntsman raced across my windscreen, I had an arachnophobic meltdown on the side of the road.

Forms

plural

meltdowns