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“stalemate”
stalactite, stalacto-stalagmite, stalagmite, stalemate
stalactite (stuh LAK tight") (noun)
A conical or roughly cylindrical speleothem formed by dripping water and hanging from the roof of a cave like an icicle; usually composed of calcium carbonate: "When we went to the cave, we could see the stalactites hanging from the ceiling."
stalacto-stalagmite (stuh LAK toh-stuh LAG might) (noun)
A columnar deposit formed by the union of a stalactite with its complementary stalagmite composed of mineral-rich water: "The combination of stalactites and stalagmites caused an interesting stalacto-stalagmite formation in this very large cave."
stalagmite (stuh LAG might") (noun)
A conical speleothem formed upward from the floor of a cave by the action of dripping water from a stalactite; usually composed of calcium carbonate: "In contrast to the thin stalactite, there is a massive stalagmite, which is 40 feet (12.19 meters) up from the floor of the cave."
stalemate (STAYL mayt") (noun)
Any position in which no action can be taken; complete standstill; deadlock, impasse, standoff; blockage: "The stubborn negotiators could not agree so they reached a stalemate and never resolved the issue of having a gambling casino in the city."
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| This is a stalactite. | This is a stalagmite. | Uh, this is a stalemate. |
A stalactite holds tight to the ceiling while a stalagmite just might reach up to the ceiling.
There were some spelunkers who were at a stalemate because when they saw a stalactite and a stalagmite formed together as one unit; they finally decided that what they had discovered was a stalacto-stalagmite.
This entry is located in the following unit:
Confusing Words Clarified: Group S; Homonyms, Homophones, Homographs, Synonyms, Polysemes, etc. +
(page 8)
Word Entries at Get Words:
“stalemate”
1. In chess, a situation in which no winner is possible because neither player can move a piece without placing the king in check: The chess champion was astonished to find herself in a stalemate with her opponent.
2. Any tie or deadlock; or a position in which no action can be taken resulting in a complete standoff or impasse: The national budget debate in the Senate ended in a stalemate.
2. Any tie or deadlock; or a position in which no action can be taken resulting in a complete standoff or impasse: The national budget debate in the Senate ended in a stalemate.
The union delegates announced that there was a stalemate in the contract negotiations with the city.
This entry is located in the following unit:
English Words in Action, Group S
(page 12)