erect
Americanadjective
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upright in position or posture.
to stand or sit erect.
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raised or directed upward.
a dog with ears erect.
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Botany. vertical throughout; not spreading or declined.
an erect stem;
an erect leaf or ovule.
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Heraldry.
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(of a charge) represented vertically, following the line of a pale.
a sword erect.
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(of an animal or part of an animal) represented upright.
a boar's head erect.
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Optics. (of an image) having the same position as the object; not inverted.
verb (used with object)
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to erect a house.
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to raise and set in an upright or vertical position.
to erect a telegraph pole.
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to set up or establish, as an institution; found.
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to bring about; cause to come into existence.
to erect barriers to progress.
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Geometry. to draw or construct (a line or figure) upon a given line, base, or the like.
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to form or create legally (usually followed byinto ).
to erect a territory into a state.
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Optics. to change (an inverted image) to the normal position.
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Machinery. to assemble; make ready for use.
verb (used without object)
adjective
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upright in posture or position; not bent or leaning
an erect stance
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(of an optical image) having the same orientation as the object; not inverted
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physiol (of the penis, clitoris, or nipples) firm or rigid after swelling with blood, esp as a result of sexual excitement
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(of plant parts) growing vertically or at right angles to the parts from which they arise
verb
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to put up; construct; build
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to raise to an upright position; lift up
to erect a flagpole
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to found or form; set up
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(also intr) physiol to become or cause to become firm or rigid by filling with blood
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to hold up as an ideal; exalt
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optics to change (an inverted image) to an upright position
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to draw or construct (a line, figure, etc) on a given line or figure, esp at right angles to it
Related Words
See upright.
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
Etymology
Origin of erect
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
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The act erects massive barriers to entry to the market.
Dozens of California schools, streets, parks and libraries bear the name of Cesar Chavez — on top of the statues erected and holiday established in his honor.
From Los Angeles Times
I could not see Father’s face, only the erect carriage of his shoulders and the halo of white hair above them.
From Literature
She stood very erect and glared down at me as if I was the one who had caused the great disruption.
From Literature
An AFP reporter in Cucuta saw a stage that was erected for the event being dismantled.
From Barron's
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
