---
title: stalactite — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «stalactite» in the school dictionary: A stalactite is a long, pointed stone shape that hangs down from the roof of a cave, made very slowly by dripping water that leaves tiny bits of minerals behind. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# stalactite

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** stalactite, long pointed stone shape, water, Stalactites, you, Icicles · **What happens:** point, be, hang down, make, drip, leave · **To what, where:** long pointed stone shape, roof, water, tiny bits, shape, Anything · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«stalactite» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 7 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [stalactite in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/stalactite.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A stalactite is a long, pointed stone shape that hangs down from the roof of a cave, made very slowly by dripping water that leaves tiny bits of minerals behind.

<!-- fold The tree, 30 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stalactite:m1:1
# text = A stalactite is a long, pointed stone shape that hangs down from the roof of a cave, made very slowly by dripping water that leaves tiny bits of minerals behind.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	stalactite	stalactite	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
5	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
7	pointed	point	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	amod	_	_
8	stone	stone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	shape	shape	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
10	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	11	nsubj	_	_
11	hangs	hang	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	acl:relcl	_	_
12	down	down	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
13	from	from	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	roof	roof	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	_
16	of	of	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	cave	cave	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
20	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	parataxis	_	_
21	very	very	ADV	RB	_	22	advmod	_	_
22	slowly	slowly	ADV	RB	_	20	advmod	_	_
23	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	24	mark	_	_
24	dripping	drip	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	20	advcl	_	_
25	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	obj	_	_
26	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	27	nsubj	_	_
27	leaves	leave	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	25	acl:relcl	_	_
28	tiny	tiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	29	amod	_	_
29	bits	bit	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	27	obj	_	_
30	of	of	ADP	IN	_	31	case	_	_
31	minerals	mineral	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	29	nmod	_	_
32	behind	behind	ADV	RB	_	27	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
33	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **point** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn wink-40.3.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** | present | a stalactite | a long pointed stone shape |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **hang down** | present | a long pointed stone shape |  |  | the roof of a cave |  | down *property* | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **make** | participle |  |  |  |  |  | slowly *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |
| 5 | **drip** | gerund |  | water |  |  |  |  | vn substance\_emission-43.4-1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location water=Source |
| 6 | **leave** | present | water | tiny bits of minerals |  |  |  | behind *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bit=Theme |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Anything hanging down in that shape, like an icicle, can be called a stalactite.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stalactite:m2:1
# text = Anything hanging down in that shape, like an icicle, can be called a stalactite.
1	Anything	anything	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	14	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	hanging	hang	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	1	acl	_	_
3	down	down	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	that	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	6	det	_	_
6	shape	shape	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	like	like	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	icicle	icicle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
12	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	14	aux	_	_
13	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	14	aux:pass	_	_
14	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	stalactite	stalactite	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	14	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hang down** | gerund |  |  |  | that shape |  | like a icicle; down *property* | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent in shape=Location |
| 2 | **call** | can · passive |  | Anything |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: subject=Recipient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A huge stalactite hung from the cave roof.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stalactite:x1:1
# text = A huge stalactite hung from the cave roof.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	huge	huge	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	stalactite	stalactite	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	hung	hang	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
5	from	from	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	cave	cave	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	roof	roof	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hang** | participle |  | a huge stalactite *not said here* |  | the cave roof |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Stalactites grow only a tiny bit every year.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stalactite:x2:1
# text = Stalactites grow only a tiny bit every year.
1	Stalactites	stalactite	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	grow	grow	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	only	only	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	tiny	tiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	bit	bit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	8	det	_	_
8	year	year	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **grow** | present | Stalactites | a tiny bit |  |  | year |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Water dripped from the tip of the stalactite.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stalactite:x3:1
# text = Water dripped from the tip of the stalactite.
1	Water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
2	dripped	drip	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	1	acl	_	_
3	from	from	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	tip	tip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	stalactite	stalactite	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **drip** | participle |  | Water *not said here* |  | the tip of the stalactite |  |  | vn substance\_emission-43.4-1 «NP.theme V PP.source»: agent=Theme from tip=Source |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't touch the stalactites — they are very old.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stalactite:x4:1
# text = Don't touch the stalactites — they are very old.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	touch	touch	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	stalactites	stalactite	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
7	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
8	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
9	very	very	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **touch** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* | the stalactites |  |  |  |  | vn contiguous\_location-47.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme stalactite=Co-Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present | stalactites *= stalactite* |  |  |  |  | old *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
When a stalactite meets a stalagmite, it makes a pillar.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stalactite:x5:1
# text = When a stalactite meets a stalagmite, it makes a pillar.
1	When	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	4	mark	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	stalactite	stalactite	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	meets	meet	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	advcl	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	stalagmite	stalagmite	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	pillar	pillar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **meet** | present | a stalactite | a stalagmite |  |  |  |  | vn meet-36.3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent stalagmite=Co-Agent |
| 2 | **make** | present | stalactite | a pillar |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.material V NP»: agent=Material pillar=Product |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Icicles look like stalactites made of ice.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stalactite:x6:1
# text = Icicles look like stalactites made of ice.
1	Icicles	icicle	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	look	look	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	like	like	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	stalactites	stalactite	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
5	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	acl	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	ice	ice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | present | Icicles |  |  |  |  | like stalactites | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |
| 2 | **make** | participle |  | stalactites *not said here* |  |  |  | of ice | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our class drew stalactites in the cave picture.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stalactite:x7:1
# text = Our class drew stalactites in the cave picture.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	drew	draw	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	stalactites	stalactite	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	cave	cave	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	picture	picture	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **draw** | past | Our class | stalactites |  | the cave picture |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent stalactite=Theme in picture=Destination |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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