You searched for: “stalacto stalagmite”
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."

This is a stalactite image This is a stalagmite image This is a stalmate image
This is a stalactite. This is a stalagmite. Uh, this is a stalemate.

—Word Info image © ALL rights reserved.

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)
stalacto-stalagmite (stuh LAK toh-stuh LAG might)
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."

Illustrations of stalacto-stalagmites

The father is explaining the stalactite in a cave.
—Word Info image © ALL rights are reserved.

See Jimmy, this is a stalactite, a word that comes from Modern Latin stalactites; but before that it came from Greek, stalaktos, meaning "dripping, dropping," or "to drip."




The father continues to explain about a stalagmite.
—Word Info image © ALL rights are reserved.

Now, this is a stalagmite, which also came from Greek stalagma, "a drop," or stalagmos, "dropping;" through New Latin stalagmites, "a drop" and both of them came from stalassein, stalak-, "to drip."




And finally, father explains that when they are joined, we have a stalemate.
—Word Info image © ALL rights are reserved.

Finally, when a stalactite and a stalagmite join, we end up with a stalemate.


Just joking. It's really called a stalacto-stalagmite and it is pronounced [stuh LAK toh-stuh LAG might]. It is defined as a columnar deposit formed by the union of a stalactite with its complementary stalagmite composed of mineral-rich water; but, if it is easier for you to remember, it is also called a "column". Now you know all about these cave formations, don't you?



Identity Problem in the Mammoth Caves

O pendant stalactite,

Deposit crystalline,

Insensate troglodyte

Shaped of accreted brine,


Aspire you still to pierce

That upright stalagmite

Who in a million years

Your love cannot requite?


And if indeed your drip

With ardor one day fill her,

And bring you lip to lip,

And make you two one pillar …


Still, how can you be sure,

O pendant stalactite,

If you are you, or her—

An upright stalagmite?

—Willard R. Espy

Pointing to an stalactite, stalagmite article Additonal information about stalactites and stalagmites.

This entry is located in the following unit: stalac-, stalag- (page 1)