meltdownPronunciation: /ˈmɛltdaʊn/Translate meltdown | into French | into German | into Italian Definition of meltdown noun 1a disastrous collapse or breakdown:the global financial system suffered a major meltdown informal an uncontrolled emotional outburst or a mental collapse:the story will revolve around her meltdown following the accident 2an accident in a nuclear reactor in which the fuel overheats and melts the reactor core or shielding. meltdown in other Oxford dictionaries Definition of meltdown in the US English dictionary