Definition of Stalactite

1. Noun. A cylinder of calcium carbonate hanging from the roof of a limestone cave.

Group relationships: Cave
Generic synonyms: Cylinder
Terms within: Dripstone

Definition of Stalactite

1. n. A pendent cone or cylinder of calcium carbonate resembling an icicle in form and mode of attachment. Stalactites are found depending from the roof or sides of caverns, and are produced by deposition from waters which have percolated through, and partially dissolved, the overlying limestone rocks.

Definition of Stalactite

1. Noun. (geology) A mineral deposit of calcium carbonate, in shapes similar to icicles, that hangs from the roof of a cave. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Stalactite

1. [n -S]

Medical Definition of Stalactite

1. Origin: Gr. Oozing out in drops, dropping, fr. To drop: cf. F. Stalactite. A pendent cone or cylinder of calcium carbonate resembling an icicle in form and mode of attachment. Stalactites are found depending from the roof or sides of caverns, and are produced by deposition from waters which have percolated through, and partially dissolved, the overlying limestone rocks. In an extended sense, any mineral or rock of similar form and origin; as, a stalactite of lava. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Stalactite

stakeholderships
stakeholding
stakeholdings
stakehole
stakeholes
stakelike
stakeout
stakeouts
stakes
stakes of Zion
stakes out
staking
staking out
stalactical
stalactiform
stalactite (current term)
stalactites
stalactitic
stalactitical
stalactitiform
stalag
stalagmite
stalagmites
stalagmitic
stalagmitical
stalagmitically
stalagmometer
stalags
stalder
stalderite

Literary usage of Stalactite

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Outlines of Mineralogy by John Kidd (1809)
"stalactite. The term stalactite is applied particularly, ... The matter of the stalactite, as has been already stated, is conveyed by water that has ..."

2. A Manual of Elementary Geology; Or, The Ancient Changes of the Earth and Its by Charles Lyell (1852)
"... Origin of stalactite — Australian cave-breccias—Geographical relationship of the provinces of living vertebrata and those of the fossil species of the ..."

3. A Manual of Elementary Geology; Or, The Ancient Changes of the Earth and Its by Charles Lyell (1852)
"... Osseous breccias and cavern deposits—Sicily—Kirkdale— Origin of stalactite—Australian cave-breccias—Geographical relationship of the provinces of living ..."

4. A Manual of Elementary Geology: Or, The Ancient Changes of the Earth and Its by Charles Lyell (1854)
"... to exist—Osseous breccias and cavern deposits—Sicily—Kirkdale— Origin of stalactite—Australian cave-breccias—Geographical relationship of the provinces ..."

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