stalactite

(stə-lăk'tīt', stăl'ək-)
n.
An icicle-shaped mineral deposit, usually calcite or aragonite, hanging from the roof of a cavern, formed from the dripping of mineral-rich water.

[New Latin stalactītēs, from Greek stalaktos, dripping, from stalassein, stalak-, to drip.]

stalactiform sta·lac'ti·form' adj.
stalactitic stal'ac·tit'ic (stăl'ăk-tĭt'ĭk, stə-lăk'-) adj.

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A stalactite hangs down from the roof of a cave, and is formed from dripping water containing rich minerals. A stalagmite rises up from the floor and is formed from deposits also caused by dripping. Both words are derived from the Greek word stalassō meaning 'to drip', and are pronounced with the stress on the first syllable in British English but with the stress on the second syllable in American English.

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1. System of corbelling, called muqarna, really brick squinches (see dome) and vaults with the soffits elaborately carved to resemble a series of stalactites, in Islamic, particularly Moorish, architecture.

2. Stone or stucco forms resembling stalactites or icicles, called congelation, found in grottoes.

(stuh-lak-teyets)

Rock structures formed on the ceilings of caves as water drips down, leaving behind minerals before it falls. (Compare stalagmites.)

Stalactites grow very slowly.

One easy way to distinguish stalactites from stalagmites is to recall that stalactites “hold tight” to the ceiling of a cave. Stalagmites “might reach the ceiling” of the cave and form a column.

For a list of words related to stalactite, see:

• Materials, Formations, and Substances - stalactite: columnar deposit of minerals hanging from cave ceiling
• Sedimentary rocks

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See words rhyming with "stalactite."

  See crossword solutions for the clue Stalactite.

Dansk (Danish)
n. - stalaktit, drypsten

Nederlands (Dutch)
stalactiet, druipsteen

Français (French)
n. - stalactite

Deutsch (German)
n. - Stalaktit

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - (γεωλ.) σταλακτίτης

Italiano (Italian)
stalattite

Português (Portuguese)
n. - estalactite (f)

Русский (Russian)
сталактит

Español (Spanish)
n. - estalactita

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - stalaktit, droppsten

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
钟乳石

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 鐘乳石

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 종유석

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 鍾乳石

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) الحليمات النوازل (جيولوجيا)‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮נטיף, אבן טיפין עילית, סטלקטיט‬

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