[syn: side effect, fallout]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
fallout \fallout\ n.
1. the radioactive particles that settle to the ground after
a nuclear explosion.
Syn: radioactive dust, radioactive fallout.
[WordNet 1.5]
2. the falling to the ground of radioactive particles lifted
into the atmosphere by a nuclear explosion.
[PJC]
3. an incidental or unexpected effect, especially one which
is undesirable, consequent to an event or process;; --
usually used only in the singular; as, the fallout from
the disclosure of the Lewinsky tapes made trouble for the
President for months after the event; fallout from the
stock market crash caused property prices to decline in
the New York area.
[PJC]
4. (Med.) one selected from a group by some criterion. [cant]
[PJC]
Corrective action was taken in 97 of the 418
--fallouts
from 3,787 patients at risk. --H. Gill
Cryer et al.
(Journal of
Trauma,
Injury,
Infection, and
Critical Care.
Vol 41, no. 3,
1996).
[PJC]
5. one who fails to maintain the same pace as and lags behind
a group of which s/he is a member. [cant]
[PJC]
The executive officer's group noted all --fallouts
by name and policed them into a group to complete
the run at a slower pace. --Lt. Col.
William C.
David
(Preparing a
Battalion for
Combat:
Physical
Fitness and
Mental
Toughness.
Army
University
After Next -
Virtual
Research
Library).
[PJC]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
fallout
n 1: the radioactive particles that settle to the ground after a
nuclear explosion [syn: fallout, radioactive dust]
2: any adverse and unwanted secondary effect; "a strategy to
contain the fallout from the accounting scandal" [syn: side
effect, fallout]