stalactite
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stalactite
- /ˈstælæktaɪt/ UK
- /-lək-/ UK
- /stəˈlæktaɪt/ UK
- /stəˈlækˌtaɪt/ US
- /ˈstæləkˌtaɪt/ US
Where it comes from
From New Latin stalactītēs, 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).
noun stalactites
- A secondary mineral deposit of calcium carbonate or another mineral, in shapes similar to icicles, that hangs from the roof of a cave. In one place, near at hand, a stalagmite had been slowly growing up from the ground for ages, builded by the water-drip from a stalactite overhead.
Translations
Every language
noun mineral deposit hanging from the roof of a cave
| Español | estalactita |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 종유석 jong'yuseok |
| 日本語 | 鍾乳石 shōnyūseki |
| 中文 | 鐘乳石 /钟乳石 zhōngrǔshí |
| Português | estalactite |
| Français | stalactite |
| Deutsch | Stalaktit |
| Italiano | stalattite |
| Ελληνικά | σταλακτίτης stalaktítis |
| Русский | сталакти́т stalaktít |
| Tiếng Việt | thạch nhũ, nhũ đá |
| עברית | נָטִיף natíf |
Talk about this word "stalactite." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/stalactite. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. stalactite. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/stalactite "stalactite." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/stalactite.Cite this
@misc{stalactite_2026,
title = {stalactite},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/stalactite},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
