/fawl"owt'/ , n.
1. the settling to the ground of airborne particles ejected into the atmosphere from the earth by explosions, eruptions, forest fires, etc., esp. such settling from nuclear explosions (radioactive fallout) . Cf. rainout .
2. the particles themselves. Cf. rainout .
3. an unexpected or incidental effect, outcome, or product: the psychological fallout of being obese.
4. effects; results: emotional fallout from a divorce.
Also, fall-out .
[ 1945-50; n. use of v. phrase fall out ]