A stalagmite (from the Greek stalagma, "drop") is a type of Speleothem that rises from the floor of a Limestone cave due to the dripping of mineralized solutions and the depositation of Calcium carbonate. The corresponding formation on the ceiling of a cave is known as a Stalactite. If these formations grow together, meeting in the middle, the result is known as a column or pillar.
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There are various mnemonics (ways to remember) for which hangs from the ceiling (stalactite) and which rises from the floor (stalagmite):
The term "stalagmite" is derived from the Greek noun stalagma ("Σταλαγμίτης"), meaning "drop" or "drip"; the term "stalactite" comes from the related adjective stalaktos, meaning "dropped".
Stalactites and stalagmites can also form on concrete ceilings and floors, although they form much more quickly there than in the natural cave environment.