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

One young man was wounded and taken to hospital following clashes with the security forces who had erected barricades, AFP news agency reported.

Read more on BBC

Citing a height discrepancy, the National Park Service removed the 12-foot statue without notice Sept. 24 — less than 24 hours after it was erected on the National Mall.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

As we spoke a large inflatable dinosaur loomed over our heads, part of a bouncy castle erected for the ANO rally.

Read more on BBC

At the time, the company was nearing the end of a rebuild of the club's main stand at Tynecastle stadium - erecting a 120-metre steel beam and steelworks to allow for 2,000 more seats.

Read more on BBC

Reporters said some of the Gen Z protesters tried to breach the security barriers police had erected around Congress.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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