erect

UK: /ɪˈrɛkt/ US: /ɪˈrɛkt/ ,(i rekt′)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

e•rect /ɪˈrɛkt/   adj. 

1. upright and straight in position or posture:
   to sit erect.

v. [~ + object]

2. Building to build; construct:
   erected a monument to the founder in the town square.
3. to raise and set in an upright or vertical position:
   to erect a tent.

e•rec•tion /ɪˈrɛkʃən/  n. [uncountable* countable]
e•rect•ly, adv. 
e•rect•ness, n. [uncountable] See -rect-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

e•rect  (i rekt′), adj. 

1. upright in position or posture:
   to stand or sit erect.
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
   • (of a charge) represented palewise:
     a sword erect.
   • (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.

v.t. 

6. Building to build;
   construct;
   raise:
   to erect a house.
7. to raise and set in an upright or vertical position:
   to erect a telegraph pole.
8. to set up or establish, as an institution;
   found.
9. to bring about;
   cause to come into existence:
   to erect barriers to progress.
10. Mathematics [Geom.] to draw or construct (a line or figure) upon a given line, base, or the like.
11. to form or create legally (usually fol. by into):
    to erect a territory into a state.
12. Optics to change (an inverted image) to the normal position.
13. Mechanical Engineering [Mach.] to assemble;
    make ready for use.

v.i. 

14. to become erect;
    stand up or out.

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

e•rect′a•ble, adj. 
e•rect′ly, adv. 
e•rect′ness, n. 
Synonyms

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

Antonyms

• 1. reclining.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

erect / ɪˈrɛkt/ adjective

1. upright in posture or position; not bent or leaning
2. (of the penis, clitoris, or nipples) firm or rigid after swelling with blood, esp as a result of sexual excitement
3. (of plant parts) growing vertically or at right angles to the parts from which they arise

verb (mainly tr)

1. to put up; construct; build
2. to raise to an upright position; lift up
3. to found or form; set up
4. (also intr) to become or cause to become firm or rigid by filling with blood
5. to hold up as an ideal; exalt
6. to draw or construct (a line, figure, etc) on a given line or figure, esp at right angles to it

Etymology: 14th Century: from Latin ērigere to set up, from regere to control, govern

eˈrectable adjective

eˈrectness noun