erect

[ih-rekt]

adjective

1. upright in position or posture.

   to stand or sit erect.

   Synonyms: vertical, standing

2. raised or directed upward.

   a dog with ears erect.

3. Botany.,  vertical throughout; not spreading or declined.

   an erect stem;

   an erect leaf or ovule.

4. Heraldry.

   1. (of a charge) represented vertically, following the line of a pale.

      a sword erect.

   2. (of an animal or part of an animal) represented upright.

      a boar's head erect.

5. Optics.,  (of an image) having the same position as the object; not inverted.

verb (used with object)

1. to build; construct; raise.

   to erect a house.

   Synonyms: upraise, upend, set up, put up

2. to raise and set in an upright or vertical position.

   to erect a telegraph pole.

3. to set up or establish, as an institution; found.

4. to bring about; cause to come into existence.

   to erect barriers to progress.

5. Geometry.,  to draw or construct (a line or figure) upon a given line, base, or the like.

6. to form or create legally (usually followed byinto ).

   to erect a territory into a state.

7. Optics.,  to change (an inverted image) to the normal position.

8. Machinery.,  to assemble; make ready for use.

verb (used without object)

1. to become erect; stand up or out.

erect

/ ɪˈrɛkt /

adjective

1. upright in posture or position; not bent or leaning

   an erect stance

2. (of an optical image) having the same orientation as the object; not inverted

3. physiol (of the penis, clitoris, or nipples) firm or rigid after swelling with blood, esp as a result of sexual excitement

4. (of plant parts) growing vertically or at right angles to the parts from which they arise

verb

1. to put up; construct; build

2. to raise to an upright position; lift up

   to erect a flagpole

3. to found or form; set up

4. (also intr) physiol to become or cause to become firm or rigid by filling with blood

5. to hold up as an ideal; exalt

6. optics to change (an inverted image) to an upright position

7. to draw or construct (a line, figure, etc) on a given line or figure, esp at right angles to it

Other Word Forms

• erectable adjective
• erectly adverb
• erectness noun
• nonerecting adjective
• preerect verb (used with object)
• reerect verb (used with object)
• semierect adjective
• semierectly adverb
• semierectness noun
• suberect adjective
• suberectly adverb
• suberectness noun
• unerect adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of erect¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin ērēctus “raised up” (past participle of ērigere ), equivalent to ē- e- ¹ + reg- “guide, direct” ( royal ) + -tus past participle suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of erect¹

C14: from Latin ērigere to set up, from regere to control, govern

Synonym Study

See upright.

Example Sentences

Back in September 2015, I was present when Hungary's first fence was erected along the border with Serbia, and witnessed hundreds of people scrambling to cross into the EU before they could be shut out.

From BBC

Mr Cooper said his group decided to erect flags in Sutton after seeing social media posts of people doing similar things in their area.

From BBC

A small circus had been erected and a bull ring constructed of wooden posts and leaves.

From Los Angeles Times

Brain would then ask her to give him a massage, including an occasion where he brushed her hand over his erect penis.

From BBC

Any protest in support of Mr Ó hAnnaidh and "aligned causes must remain in the red area. Any stage must be erected in the green area" they said in a post on social media.

From BBC

Related Words

• assemble 
• construct 
• create 
• found 
• hoist 
• initiate 
• mount 
• organize 
• put up 
• raise 
• set up 
• stand