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.

Example Sentences

“We’re on the same page on that,” Bass said, suggesting the city could erect shipping containers or other modular units for more stable forms of housing rather than tent cities.

From Los Angeles Times

When Bedouin residents erected makeshift tents, the police ripped those down as well and threatened them with arrest.

From Salon

Not much is known about the next statue the Lakers plan to have erected outside Crypto.com Arena.

From Los Angeles Times

That’s where Raw Story ran into a roadblock erected by the Supreme Court.

From Los Angeles Times

In Belfast, a protest banner was erected outside the office of Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O'Neill following her decision to take part in the city's Remembrance Day service on Sunday.

From BBC

Related Words

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