Meanings
nounnuclear meltdown (plural nuclear meltdowns)
plural nuclear meltdowns
- A severe nuclear reactor accident that results in core damage from overheating
Synonyms & antonyms
nounsevere overheating of the core of a nuclear reactor resulting in the core melting and radiation escaping
Similar
Broader
Also see
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Translations
German Kernschmelze
- Kernschmelzesevere nuclear reactor accident
Polish stopienie rdzenia reaktora jądrowego
- stopienie rdzenia reaktora jądrowegosevere nuclear reactor accident
Spanish fusión de núcleo, fundición nuclear
- fusión de núcleosevere nuclear reactor accident
- fundición nuclearsevere nuclear reactor accident
- derretimiento nuclearsevere nuclear reactor accident
Cite this entry
APA
nuclear meltdown. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/nuclear%20meltdown
MLA
“nuclear meltdown.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/nuclear%20meltdown. Accessed November 4, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “nuclear meltdown,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/nuclear%20meltdown.
Source: nuclear meltdown on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.