stalactite
1stalactite — [ stalaktit ] n. f. • 1644; du gr. stalaktos « qui coule goutte à goutte » ♦ Concrétion calcaire qui se forme à la voûte d une grotte par l évaporation des gouttes d eau qui filtrent. Stalactites et stalagmites. « Une grotte que les stalactites… …
2Stalactite — Sta*lac tite ( t[imac]t), n.; pl. {Stalactites} ( t[imac]ts). [Gr. stalakto s oozing out in drops, dropping, fr. stala zein to drop: cf. F. stalactite.] (Geol.) (a) A pendent cone or cylinder of calcium carbonate resembling an icicle in form and… …
3stalactite — stalactite, stalagmite 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… …
4stalactite — (n.) 1670s, Anglicized from Mod.L. stalactites (used 1654 by Olaus Wormius), from Gk. stalaktos dripping, from stalassein to trickle, from PIE root *stag to seep, drip, drop (Cf. Ger. stallen, Lith. telziu to urinate ) …
5stalactite — ► NOUN ▪ a tapering structure hanging from the roof of a cave, formed of calcium salts deposited by dripping water. ORIGIN from Greek stalaktos dripping , from stalassein to drip …
6stalactite — [stə lak′tīt, stal′ək tīt΄] n. [ModL stalactites < Gr stalaktos, trickling or dropping < stalassein, to let fall drop by drop: see STALE2] an icicle shaped, secondary mineral deposit, usually calcite, that hangs from the roof of a cave and… …
7Stalactite — A stalactite (Greek stalaktites , (Σταλακτίτης), from the word for drip and meaning that which drips ) is a type of speleothem (secondary mineral) that hangs from the ceiling or wall of limestone caves. It is sometimes referred to as dripstone.… …
8stalactite — 1. Speleothem, generally of calcite, formed by dripping water and hanging from a cave roof. Stalactites embrace an enormous variety of sizes and shapes. They form where percolation water seeps from a cave ceiling and becomes saturated with… …
9stalactite — UK [ˈstæləktaɪt] / US [stəˈlækˌtaɪt] noun [countable] Word forms stalactite : singular stalactite plural stalactites science a long pointed piece of rock that hangs down from the roof of a cave, formed by chemicals in water drops that have fallen …
10Stalactite — Excentriques, Grotte de Torrinha, Chapada Diamantina, Bahia, Brésil Une stalactite (du grec stalaktos qui coule goutte à goutte ) se forme à la voûte des grottes et des souterrains, ou sous des plafonds ou dalles de béton de mauvaise qualité ou… …
