stalactite, stalagmite

stalactite, stalagmite
Only geologists are likely to use these terms often, but others have difficulty in remembering which hangs down from the roof of a cave and which rises up from the floor. Both stalactite and stalagmite refer to deposits of calcium carbonate formed by the dripping of water. A stalactite is a column that hangs down; one that builds up from the floor is a stalagmite. Suggestion for remembering: associate stalactite with icicle. If that doesn't help, think of mite and mire.

Dictionary of problem words and expressions. . 1975.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • stalagmite — [ stalagmit ] n. f. • 1644; du gr. stalagmos « écoulement goutte à goutte » ♦ Géol. Concrétion analogue à la stalactite, mais s élevant en colonne sur le sol. Sol couvert de stalagmites. Adj. STALAGMITIQUE . ● stalagmite nom féminin (grec… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • stalactite — stalactite, stalagmite A stalactite hangs down from the roof of a cave, and is formed from dripping water containing rich minerals. A stalagmite rises up from the floor and is formed from deposits also caused by dripping. Both words are derived… …   Modern English usage

  • stalagmite — stalactite, stalagmite A stalactite hangs down from the roof of a cave, and is formed from dripping water containing rich minerals. A stalagmite rises up from the floor and is formed from deposits also caused by dripping. Both words are derived… …   Modern English usage

  • stalactite — See stalactite, stalagmite …   Dictionary of problem words and expressions

  • stalagmite — See stalactite, stalagmite …   Dictionary of problem words and expressions

  • stalactite — [ stalaktit ] n. f. • 1644; du gr. stalaktos « qui coule goutte à goutte » ♦ Concrétion calcaire qui se forme à la voûte d une grotte par l évaporation des gouttes d eau qui filtrent. Stalactites et stalagmites. « Une grotte que les stalactites… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Stalagmite — Stalactite et stalagmite Une stalagmite est un spéléothème qui se forme sur le sol des grottes et souterrains par la chute lente et continue d eaux calcaires et par l effet splash de celles ci. Lorsque la stalagmite , en poursuivant sa lente… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • stalagmite — (n.) 1680s, from Mod.L. stalagmites (Olaus Wormius), from Gk. stalagmos a dropping, or stalagma a drop, drip, from stalassein to trickle (see STALACTITE (Cf. stalactite)) …   Etymology dictionary

  • stalagmite — [stə lag′mīt, stal′əg mīt΄] n. [ModL stalagmites < Gr stalagmos, a dropping < stalassein, to drop or drip: see STALE2] a cone shaped, secondary mineral deposit built up on the floor of a cave by dripping water, often from a stalactite above …   English World dictionary

  • Stalagmite — Sta*lag mite (st[.a]*l[a^]g m[imac]t), n. [Gr. sta lagma that which drops, a drop, fr. stala zein to drop: cf. F. stalagmite.] (Geol.) A deposit more or less resembling an inverted stalactite, formed by calcareous water dropping on the floors of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”