stalactite
Americannoun
noun
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012-
A cylindrical or conical mineral deposit projecting downward from the roof of a cave or cavern, formed by the dripping of water saturated with minerals. Stalactites form gradually as the minerals precipitate out of the saturated water. They usually consist of calcite but can also consist of other minerals.
-
Compare stalagmite
Other Word Forms
- stalactiform adjective
- stalactitic adjective
- stalactitical adjective
- stalactitically adverb
Etymology
Origin of stalactite
1670–80; < New Latin stalactites < Greek stalakt ( ós ) dripping ( stalag-, stem of stalássein to drip + -tos verbid suffix) + New Latin -ites -ite 1
Compare meaning
How does stalactite compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
We walked through tree branches, tangled vines and sharp hanging stalactites, over roots as thick as a human leg, and carcasses of birds, mice and God knows what else in varying states of decay.
From Salon
The stalactites and stalagmites of Sequoia National Park’s Crystal Cave, a sprawling subterranean wonder that’s been closed for four years, will be accessible again this summer.
From Los Angeles Times
After a short walk through a maze of stalactites, Michael is lowered into the dark.
From BBC
The metal structure is being eaten away by microbes, creating stalactites of rust called rusticles.
From BBC
Arching over the emerald basin are walls of stalactites dripping down the cavern ceiling, which opens to a dense jungle.
From Seattle Times
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
