stalagmite
(ˈstælægmaɪt, stəˈlægmaɪt)
Also 7 stalagmites.
[a. mod.L. stalagmītēs (Olaus Wormius: see stalactites), f. Gr. στάλαγµα stalagma or σταλαγµός a dropping, f. σταλακ-, σταλάσσειν: see stalactic a. Cf. F. stalagmite.]
1. An incrustation or deposit, more or less like an inverted stalactite, on the floor of a cavern, formed by the dropping from the roof of some material in solution.
| 1681 Grew Musæum iii. §i. v. 295 The Cluster'd Stalagmites. 1758 Platt in Phil. Trans. L. 527 The stalactites and stalagmites, of which there is great variety. 1841 Catlin N. Amer. Ind. (1844) II. lii. 148 The rich stalagmites that grew up from the bottom reflected a golden light through the water. 1878 Huxley Physiogr. viii. 122 As the stalagmite grows in height, it approaches the stalactite above which continues to grow downward. |
2. Limestone deposited in this manner.
| 1815 Aikin Min. (ed. 2) 159 Stalagmite occurs mammillated. 1823 Buckland Reliq. Diluv. 12 The effect of the loam and stalagmite in preserving the bones from decomposition..has been very remarkable. 1882 Geikie Text-bk. Geol. ii. ii. vi. 113 The crust-like deposit known as stalagmite. |
3. attrib. stalagmite marble, onyx marble.
| 1851 D. Wilson Preh. Ann. (1863) I. iv. 122 Extinct fauna buried beneath its stalagmite flooring. 1864 J. Hunt tr. Vogt's Lect. Man ix. 237 The stalagmite crust. 1895 Funk's Stand. Dict., Stalagmite marble. |