meltdown

noun

1. severe overheating of the core of a nuclear reactor resulting in the core melting and radiation escaping

   noun.process

   Synonyms nuclear meltdown

   Source: WordNet 3.0

2. a disaster comparable to a nuclear meltdown

   noun.event

   Examples

   There is little likelihood of a meltdown comparable to the American banking collapse in March 1933.

   Source: WordNet 3.0