/ ˈstæləktaɪt; NAmE stəˈlæktaɪt/ noun
a long pointed piece of rock hanging down from the roof of a cave (= a hollow place underground) , formed over a long period of time as water containing lime runs off the roof
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WORD ORIGIN
late 17th cent.: from modern Latin stalactites , from Greek stalaktos dripping, based on stalassein to drip.