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: upend, upraise, 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 by into ):

   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

Derived Forms

• eˈrectable, adjective
• eˈrectly, adverb
• eˈrectness, noun

Other Words From

• e·rect·a·ble adjective
• e·rect·ly adverb
• e·rect·ness noun
• non·e·rect·ing adjective
• pre·e·rect verb (used with object)
• re·e·rect verb (used with object)
• sem·i·e·rect adjective
• sem·i·e·rect·ly adverb
• sem·i·e·rect·ness noun
• sub·e·rect adjective
• sub·e·rect·ly adverb
• sub·e·rect·ness noun
• un·e·rect 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.

Related Words

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