stal‧ac‧tite /ˈstæləktaɪt $ stəˈlæktaɪt/ noun [countable]
[Date: 1600-1700; Language: Modern Latin; Origin: stalactites, from Greek stalaktos 'falling in drops']
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

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲