melt down
Reactor core failure
To melt down is to reduce something solid to liquid by heating: They melted down the gold coins.
The phrase also describes emotional or mental collapse—when composure gives way to tears, rage, or panic: She melted down when she heard the news.
A nuclear reactor melts down when its core overheats catastrophically.
The noun meltdown covers all these: a toddler's meltdown, a market meltdown, the Chernobyl meltdown.
Uncontrolled display of frustration
- outburstSudden emotional release
- breakdownFailure or decomposition
- cryingEmotional tear release
- sobbingConvulsive crying aloud
hysteria · fit · rage · frustration · overwhelm · screaming · tears · toddler
Controlled fission apparatus
- ChernobylSoviet nuclear disaster site
- FukushimaJapanese nuclear accident site
- radiationEnergy propagation through space
- containmentPreventing hostile expansion
core · coolant · Three Mile Island · radioactive · fuel rods · fission · catastrophe · emergency
Sudden violent impact
- collapseSudden structural failure
- marketVenue for trade
- stocksOwnership stakes or inventory
- bankruptcyLegal status when insolvent
recession · depression · panic · Wall Street · crisis · portfolio · losses · liquidation
tantrum
Uncontrolled display of frustration
sobbing · hysteria · fit · rage · frustration · overwhelm · screaming · tears · toddler · distress
liquefy
Convert to liquid state
heat · forge · foundry · crucible · molten · liquid · puddle · wax · metal · gold
reactor
Controlled fission apparatus
- ChernobylSoviet nuclear disaster site
- FukushimaJapanese nuclear accident site
- radiationEnergy propagation through space
containment · core · coolant · Three Mile Island · radioactive · fuel rods · fission · catastrophe · emergency · evacuation
crash
Sudden violent impact
bankruptcy · recession · depression · panic · Wall Street · crisis · portfolio · losses · liquidation · selloff
melt downstay calm
Remain unruffled
keep it together · keep calm · stay cool · hold it together · keep one's cool
melt downfreeze
Become solid from cold
solidify · harden · congeal · crystallize · set
melt downstabilize
Make firm or constant
hold together · hold up · recover · come online · boot up