stalactite Hear it!

stalactite definition

sta·lac·tite (stə laktīt, stalək tīt′)

noun

an icicle-shaped, secondary mineral deposit, usually calcite, that hangs from the roof of a cave and is formed by the evaporation of dripping water that is full of minerals

Etymology: ModL stalactites < Gr stalaktos, trickling or dropping < stalassein, to let fall drop by drop: see stale

Related Forms:

  • stalactitic stal′·ac·tit′ic (stal′ək titik) adjective

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Comments
Improve this definition.
Do you have more to add? Share your linguistic knowledge or observation.
/Register to save your comments.