erect

[ih-rekt]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR erect ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

upright in position or posture: to stand or sit erect.

raised or directed upward: a dog with ears erect.

Botany. vertical throughout; not spreading or declined: an erect stem; an erect leaf or ovule.

Heraldry.

(of a charge) represented palewise: a sword erect.
(of an animal or part of an animal) represented upright: a boar's head erect.

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

verb (used with object)

to build; construct; raise: to erect a house.

to raise and set in an upright or vertical position: to erect a telegraph pole.

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

to bring about; cause to come into existence: to erect barriers to progress.

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

to form or create legally (usually followed by into): to erect a territory into a state.

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

Machinery. to assemble; make ready for use.

verb (used without object)

to become erect; stand up or out.

Origin of erect

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin ērēctus raised up (past participle of ērigere), equivalent to ē- e-¹ + reg- guide, direct (see royal) + -tus past participle suffix

Related formse·rect·a·ble, adjectivee·rect·ly, adverbe·rect·ness, nounnon·e·rect·ing, adjectivepre·e·rect, verb (used with object)re·e·rect, verb (used with object)self-e·rect·ed, adjectivesem·i·e·rect, adjectivesem·i·e·rect·ly, adverbsem·i·e·rect·ness, nounsub·e·rect, adjectivesub·e·rect·ly, adverbsub·e·rect·ness, nounun·e·rect, adjectiveun·e·rect·ed, adjectivewell-e·rect·ed, adjective

Synonyms for erect

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR erect ON THESAURUS.COM

1. standing, vertical. See upright. 6. upraise.

Antonyms for erect

1. reclining.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for erect

organize, raise, create, construct, initiate, hoist, stand, assemble, found, mount, standing, firm, raised, vertical, elevated, upright, cocked, fashion, frame, elevate

Examples from the Web for erect

Contemporary Examples of erect

The original metaphor was: erect a wall to keep the garden of the church free from the wilderness of politics.
Dear Evangelicals: You’re Being Had
Jay Michaelson
November 30, 2014
In fact, the effort to erect the Obamacare infrastructure is creating a large number of private-sector positions.
Technology Firms Staff Up to Build Health-Insurance Exchanges
Miranda Green
August 21, 2013
After a while, it will seem natural to erect a canopy to shield the worshipers from the elements.
Think Twice About Jews On The Temple Mount
Edward S. Goldstein
June 27, 2013
Carroll hopes to erect a plaque in her former home and at the hotel where she also lived.
Meet America’s Indiana Jones: Andrew Carroll Searches for Forgotten History Across the U.S.
Nina Strochlic
May 14, 2013
Mr. Netanyahu has pledged to erect a similar barrier along the Syrian frontier, with changes to suit the topography.
Israel Building a Syrian Border Fence
David Frum
January 7, 2013

Historical Examples of erect

It is contemplated to erect a monument, by subscription, to Mr. Fessenden's memory.
Biographical Sketches
Nathaniel Hawthorne
She stood a little drooping and shaken, where for a moment she had been erect and tensed.
Within the Law
Marvin Dana
There entered the erect, heavy figure of the man whom Mary had hated through the years.
Within the Law
Marvin Dana
The little squirrel had squeaked his gladness, and, tail erect, had darted into the grass.
K
Mary Roberts Rinehart
He was erect, pale and handsome, and his words came without a quiver.
The Rock of Chickamauga
Joseph A. Altsheler

British Dictionary definitions for erect

erect

adjective

upright in posture or position; not bent or leaningan erect stance

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

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

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

verb (mainly tr)

to put up; construct; build

to raise to an upright position; lift upto erect a flagpole

to found or form; set up

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

to hold up as an ideal; exalt

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

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

Derived Formserectable, adjectiveerectly, adverberectness, noun

Word Origin for erect

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for erect

adj.

late 14c., "upright, not bending," from Latin erectus "upright, elevated, lofty; eager, alert, aroused," past participle of erigere "raise or set up," from e- "up" + regere "to direct, keep straight, guide" (see regal).

c.1400, a back-formation from erect (adj.) or else from Latin erectus. Related: Erected; erecting.

erect in Medicine

erect

[ĭ-rĕkt′]

adj.

Being in or having a vertical, upright position.

Being in or having a stiff, rigid physiological condition.