A stalactite is a long piece of rock which hangs down from the roof of a cave. Stalactites are formed by the slow dropping of water containing the mineral lime.
stalactite in British English
(ˈstæləkˌtaɪt)
noun
a cylindrical mass of calcium carbonate hanging from the roof of a limestone cave: formed by precipitation from continually dripping water
Compare stalagmite
Derived forms
stalactic (stəˈlæktɪk), stalactical (staˈlactical) or stalactital (ˌstæləkˈtaɪtəl), stalactitic (ˌstæləkˈtɪtɪk) or stalactitical (ˌstalacˈtitical)
adjective
stalactiform (stəˈlæktɪˌfɔːm) or less commonly stalactitiform (ˌstæləkˈtaɪtɪˌfɔːm)
adjective
Word origin
C17: from New Latin stalactites, from Greek stalaktos dripping, from stalassein to drip
stalactite in American English
(stəˈlæktaɪt; ˈstæləkˌtaɪt)
noun
an icicle-shaped, secondary mineral deposit, usually calcite, that hangs from the roof of a cave and is formed by the evaporation of drippingwater that is full of minerals
Derived forms
stalactitic (ˌstalacˈtitic) (ˌstæləkˈtɪtɪk)
adjective
Word origin
ModL stalactites < Gr stalaktos, trickling or dropping < stalassein, to let fall drop by drop: see stale2
Examples of 'stalactite' in a sentence
stalactite
Her shoulder brushed a fragile stalactite, sending it crashing to the ground.