STALACTITE


Meaning of STALACTITE in English

I. stəˈlakˌtīt sometimes ˈstalək-; usu -īd.+V noun

( -s )

Etymology: New Latin stalactites, from Greek stalaktos dropping, dripping (from stalassein to let drop, drip) + Latin -ites -ite; from the dropping of the waters — more at stale (urine)

1.

a. : a deposit of crystalline calcium carbonate (as calcite) resembling an icicle, depending from the roof or sides of a cavern, formed by waters that have become saturated with calcium bicarbonate by percolating through and partially dissolving the overlying limestone, and varying from white or colorless to yellow and brown or in some copper mines bright green or blue — compare stalagmite

b. : limestone so formed

2. : a similar formation of some other material

a stalactite of lava

3. : a small stalactiform projection used in overlapping tiers for ornamentation (as of a vault or capital) in Moorish architecture

[s]stalacti.jpg[/s] [

stalactite and stalagmite

]

II. adjective

or stalac·tit·ed -īd.ə̇d

: ornamented with successive rows of stalactites in Moorish architecture

a stalactite vault

stalactite work

Webster's New International English Dictionary.      Новый международный словарь английского языка Webster.