stalactite

Meaning

A secondary mineral deposit of calcium carbonate or another mineral, in shapes similar to icicles, that hangs from the roof of a cave.

Synonyms

stalagmite

dripstone

white stalagmite

Translations

estalactita

Stalaktit

stalactite

stalattite

estalactita

σταλακτίτης

stalactiet

druipsteen

sarkıt

damla taş

estalactite

stalaktit

Tropfstein

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈstælæktaɪt/

Etymology

From New Latin stalactites, from Ancient Greek σταλακτός (stalaktós, “dripping; dropping”) + Latin -ītēs (suffix with the sense ‘belonging to’ forming adjectives) (modelled after the names of stones ending in -ites). Σταλακτός (Stalaktós) is derived from σταλάσσειν (stalássein, “to drip; to let (something) drip”) + -τός (-tós, suffix forming adjectives denoting possibility from verbs).