Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1600-1700
Language: Modern Latin
Origin: stalactites, from Greek stalaktos 'falling in drops'

stalactite

 noun
     
Related topics: Geology
stal‧ac‧tite [countable]
HEG a sharp pointed object hanging down from the roof of a cave, which is formed gradually by water that contains minerals as it drops slowly from the roof [↪ stalagmite]
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

Dictionary pictures of the day
Do you know what each of these is called?
What is the word for picture 1? What is the word for picture 2? What is the word for picture 3? What is the word for picture 4?
Click on any of the pictures above to find out what it is called.

Explore our topic dictionary

Browse the dictionary