nuclear meltdown

• Schwere Störung in einem Kernreaktor, bei der der Reaktorkern durch Überhitzung beschädigt oder zerstört wird. Wird auch bildlich für einen katastrophalen Zusammenbruch oder einen emotionalen Ausnahmezustand verwendet.

A severe nuclear reactor accident that results in core damage from overheating, often used metaphorically to describe a catastrophic failure or emotional collapse.

1. Severe nuclear reactor accidentC1formal

   A catastrophic failure of a nuclear reactor's cooling system, leading to the overheating and melting of its fuel rods, potentially releasing radioactive material.

   Kernschmelze

   • The Chernobyl disaster was the most infamous nuclear meltdown in history.
   • Engineers worked frantically to prevent a nuclear meltdown at the plant.
   • A nuclear meltdown can have devastating environmental and health consequences.

2. Complete failure or collapseB2informal

   A figurative term for a situation that goes disastrously wrong, often due to a loss of control.

   Totalausfall

   • The project was a complete nuclear meltdown; nothing went according to plan.
   • His presentation was a nuclear meltdown; he forgot all his key points.
   • The company's financial strategy ended in a nuclear meltdown.