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a stalactite
stalactite 是可数名词，单数前通常加 a 或 the。
A stalactite is a cylinder of calcium carbonate that hangs from the roof of a limestone cave.
钟乳石是一种从石灰岩洞穴顶部垂下的碳酸钙圆柱体。
钟乳石
先理解核心含义，再看它在真实句子里的用法。
钟乳石
a cylinder of calcium carbonate that hangs from the roof of a limestone cave
A stalactite is a cylinder of calcium carbonate that hangs from the roof of a limestone cave.
钟乳石是一种从石灰岩洞穴顶部垂下的碳酸钙圆柱体。
从岩洞顶部垂下的冰柱状碳酸钙等矿物次生沉积物。
A secondary mineral deposit of calcium carbonate or another mineral, in shapes similar to icicles, that hangs from the roof of a cave.
石灰岩溶洞顶部悬挂的碳酸钙圆柱体
a cylinder of calcium carbonate hanging from the roof of a limestone cave
The guide pointed to a long stalactite hanging from the cave ceiling.
导游指着从洞穴顶部垂下来的一根长长的钟乳石。
Drops of water slowly formed a new stalactite over hundreds of years.
水滴经过数百年慢慢形成了一根新的钟乳石。
We saw several stalactites above us as we walked through the dark cave.
我们穿过黑暗的洞穴时，看到头顶上方有几根钟乳石。
stalactite 是可数名词，单数前通常加 a 或 the。
A stalactite is a cylinder of calcium carbonate that hangs from the roof of a limestone cave.
钟乳石是一种从石灰岩洞穴顶部垂下的碳酸钙圆柱体。
hang from 意为“从……垂下”；stalactites 是复数形式。
Many stalactites hang from the cave ceiling.
许多钟乳石从洞穴顶部垂下。
there are ... in ... 表示“某处有某物”，are 与复数名词 stalactites 保持一致。
There are beautiful stalactites in the cave.
洞穴里有美丽的钟乳石。
Not this
The stalagmites hung from the cave ceiling.
Use this
The stalactites hung from the cave ceiling.
stalactite 和 stalagmite 容易混淆：stalactite（钟乳石）从洞穴顶部垂下，而 stalagmite（石笋）从地面向上生长；描述悬挂在洞顶的石头时，应该用 stalactite。
Not this
We saw several stalactite in the cave.
Use this
We saw several stalactites in the cave.
stalactite 是可数名词，复数形式是 stalactites。汉语没有名词复数的语法变化，但英语中在 several 等表示数量的词后，名词必须用复数形式。
Focus on the distinctions below. Other candidates are kept compact until a reliable usage note is available.
钟乳石和石笋
The cave is famous for its stalactites and stalagmites.
这个洞穴以钟乳石和石笋闻名。
石灰岩钟乳石
Limestone stalactites hang from the cave ceiling.
石灰岩钟乳石悬挂在洞穴顶部。
钟乳石构造
The guide showed us various stalactite formations.
导游向我们展示了各种钟乳石构造。
钟乳石洞
We visited a stalactite cave in the mountains.
我们参观了一座山里的钟乳石洞。
Use stalactite naturally, then get feedback on meaning, tone, grammar, and phrasing.
Revisit a common error or keep this word in your review list.
记法：stalactite 中有 c，联想到 ceiling（洞顶）——从洞顶垂下的石头就是钟乳石。
语域：neutral 常见场景：geology、science education、cave tourism 通常在地理、地质或科普语境中使用，日常口语中较少见，但在描述洞穴景观时也可以自然使用。
None of these is a true rhyme by the strict test: the stressed vowel and following sounds of stalactite (/ˈstæləktait/) do not match any listed word. Appetite comes closest because it ends in the same /taɪt/, but the sounds after the stressed /æ/ differ. Parasite and satellite are spelling lookalikes pronounced /saɪt/ and /laɪt/; dynamite, graphite, and termite also end in -ite but with /maɪt/, /faɪt/, and /maɪt/ respectively.
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, WIKTIONARY.