dripstone

noun

drip·​stone ˈdrip-ˌstōn How to pronounce dripstone (audio)
1
: a stone drip (as over a window)
2
: calcium carbonate in the form of stalactites or stalagmites

Examples of dripstone in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
These changes are recorded in dripstone, as it is formed from dripping rainwater. David Bressan, Forbes, 17 June 2022 The researchers analyzed the shape and isotopic composition of a dripstone from the Al Hoota Cave in present-day Oman. David Bressan, Forbes, 17 June 2022 When less water drips onto the dripstone, less of it runs down the sides. David Bressan, Forbes, 17 June 2022 Incredible domes and dripstone formations, including the famous Frozen Niagara section of the cave, attract people of all ages. Kirby Adams, The Courier-Journal, 20 May 2021 There, the massive (everything seems bigger in Mammoth Cave) dripstone takes on the appearance of ancient falls stopped in their tracks eons ago. Michael Schroeder, Twin Cities, 12 Oct. 2019

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1816, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of dripstone was circa 1816

Dictionary Entries Near dripstone

Cite this Entry

“Dripstone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dripstone. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on dripstone

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!