---
title: meltdown — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «meltdown» in the school dictionary: A serious accident in a nuclear power station when the core gets so hot that it melts. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# meltdown

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** serious accident, core, someone, little boy, ice cream, I · **What happens:** get, melt, lose, shout, have, fall · **To what, where:** control, meltdown, computer, reactor meltdown, second half, traffic meltdown

<!-- .vabout -->
«meltdown» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 6 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [meltdown in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/meltdown.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A serious accident in a nuclear power station when the core gets so hot that it melts.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:meltdown:m1:1
# text = A serious accident in a nuclear power station when the core gets so hot that it melts.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	serious	serious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	accident	accident	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
6	nuclear	nuclear	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
7	power	power	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	station	station	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
9	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	12	advmod	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	core	core	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
12	gets	get	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
13	so	so	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
14	hot	hot	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	xcomp	_	_
15	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	17	mark	_	_
16	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	17	nsubj	_	_
17	melts	melt	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **get** | present | a serious accident in a nuclear power station |  |  |  |  | hot *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **melt** | present | core |  |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4-1 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: informal — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A moment when someone loses control of their feelings and cries or shouts, like a toddler's tantrum.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:meltdown:m2:1
# text = A moment when someone loses control of their feelings and cries or shouts, like a toddler's tantrum.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	moment	moment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	5	mark	_	_
4	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	nsubj	_	_
5	loses	lose	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	acl:relcl	_	_
6	control	control	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	feelings	feeling	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	cries	cry	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	conj	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	shouts	shout	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
15	like	like	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	toddler	toddler	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	's	's	PART	POS	_	17	case	_	_
19	tantrum	tantrum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lose** | present | someone | control of their feelings and cries |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent control=Eventuality |
| 2 | **shout** *speech: express* | present | someone *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: informal — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A sudden total failure or collapse: a market meltdown.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:meltdown:m3:1
# text = A sudden total failure or collapse: a market meltdown.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	sudden	sudden	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	total	total	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	failure	failure	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	collapse	collapse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	market	market	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	meltdown	meltdown	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The little boy had a meltdown when the ice cream fell.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:meltdown:x1:1
# text = The little boy had a meltdown when the ice cream fell.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	boy	boy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	meltdown	meltdown	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	11	advmod	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	ice	ice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	cream	cream	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
11	fell	fall	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | the little boy | a meltdown |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent meltdown=Patient |
| 2 | **fall** | past | the ice cream |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I nearly had a meltdown when my homework vanished from the computer.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:meltdown:x2:1
# text = I nearly had a meltdown when my homework vanished from the computer.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	nearly	nearly	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	meltdown	meltdown	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	9	advmod	_	_
7	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	homework	homework	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	vanished	vanish	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
10	from	from	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	computer	computer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | I | a meltdown |  |  |  | nearly *property* | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent meltdown=Patient |
| 2 | **vanish** | past | my homework |  |  | the computer |  |  | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Theme from computer=Initial\_Location |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Scientists work hard to stop a reactor meltdown.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:meltdown:x3:1
# text = Scientists work hard to stop a reactor meltdown.
1	Scientists	scientist	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	work	work	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	stop	stop	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	reactor	reactor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	meltdown	meltdown	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **work** | present | Scientists |  |  |  |  | hard *property* | vn employment-95.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **stop** | to-infinitive | Scientists *not said here* | a reactor meltdown |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V NP.eventuality»: agent=Subeventuality meltdown=Eventuality |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The team suffered a meltdown in the second half and lost.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:meltdown:x4:1
# text = The team suffered a meltdown in the second half and lost.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	suffered	suffer	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	meltdown	meltdown	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	second	second	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	9	amod	_	_
9	half	half	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing|NumForm=Word|NumType=Frac	3	obl	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	lost	lose	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **suffer** | past | the team | a meltdown |  | the second half |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer meltdown=Stimulus |
| 2 | **lose** | past | the team *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The town had a traffic meltdown in the snow.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:meltdown:x5:1
# text = The town had a traffic meltdown in the snow.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	town	town	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	traffic	traffic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	meltdown	meltdown	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	snow	snow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | the town | a traffic meltdown |  | the snow |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent meltdown=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Stay calm, there's no need for a meltdown.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:meltdown:x6:1
# text = Stay calm, there's no need for a meltdown.
1	Stay	stay	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	calm	calm	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
4	there	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	5	expl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	's	be	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	parataxis	_	_
6	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	7	det	_	_
7	need	need	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	meltdown	meltdown	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stay** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | calm *property* | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **be** | present | no need for a meltdown |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

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**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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