Illustration of stalactite
- stalactite and stalagmite
stalactite
noun
sta·lac·tite
stə-ˈlak-ˌtīt 
also ˈsta-lək-
: a deposit of calcium carbonate (such as calcite) resembling an icicle hanging from the roof or sides of a cave
Examples of stalactite in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Despite getting dripped on by dozens of stalactites, all my precious cargo stayed bone dry.
—
Katie Jackson, Travel + Leisure, 18 Aug. 2024
Riders were shot 80 feet in the air to face the angry god Shiva, then swung close to stalactites and dangled upside-down over lava pits for what seemed an eternity.
—Jeff Suess, The Enquirer, 16 Aug. 2024
Catch the lift down the sheer cliffside from the main road to a watery cave filled with giant stalagmites and stalactites before climbing aboard a small rowing boat to admire the intense, iridescent blue-green light (at its best between 1 and 3 pm) that filters from an underwater crevice.
—Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 July 2024
An easy walking tour of the cavern takes you through six separate chambers decorated with stalagmites, soda straws, flow stones and stalactites.
—Pam Leblanc, Southern Living, 13 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for stalactite 
Katie Jackson, Travel + Leisure, 18 Aug. 2024
Riders were shot 80 feet in the air to face the angry god Shiva, then swung close to stalactites and dangled upside-down over lava pits for what seemed an eternity.
—Jeff Suess, The Enquirer, 16 Aug. 2024
Catch the lift down the sheer cliffside from the main road to a watery cave filled with giant stalagmites and stalactites before climbing aboard a small rowing boat to admire the intense, iridescent blue-green light (at its best between 1 and 3 pm) that filters from an underwater crevice.
—Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 July 2024
An easy walking tour of the cavern takes you through six separate chambers decorated with stalagmites, soda straws, flow stones and stalactites.
—Pam Leblanc, Southern Living, 13 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for stalactite
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'stalactite.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Stalactite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stalactite. Accessed 29 Sep. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
stalactite
noun
sta·lac·tite
stə-ˈlak-ˌtīt
: a deposit of calcium carbonate resembling an icicle hanging from the roof or sides of a cavern
Etymology
from scientific Latin stalactites "stalactite," from Greek stalaktos (adjective) "dripping"
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