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.
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
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.
adj.
- Being in or having a vertical, upright position.
- Being in or having a stiff, rigid physiological condition.