erect

i-REKT/ɪˈɹɛkt/

17 meanings of erect

1
adjective
Standing straight up and not leaning or bending over.
Like a flagpole standing perfectly straight up.
She kept her back erect throughout the long ceremony.
The soldiers stood erect as the flag was raised.
Similarupright, vertical, straight, perpendicular
Oppositestooped, bent
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2
verbtransitive
To build something by joining its parts together.
Like putting up a tent from poles and cloth.
The crew will erect the tent in under an hour.
They erected a small shed in the backyard.
Similarbuild, construct, assemble, raise
Oppositedismantle, demolish
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3
adjective
Firm and standing straight out, often because of cold or touch.
Like the hairs on your arm standing up when you feel cold.
The cold made the hairs on his arm stand erect.
A scared cat holds its fur erect to look bigger.
Similarhard, stiff
Oppositeflat
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4
adjective
Having a stiff penis or clitoris because of sexual excitement.
He stayed erect throughout their lovemaking.
Many men wake up erect in the morning.
Similarhard, stiff
Oppositeflaccid, limp
5
verbtransitive
To lift something and set it standing straight up.
Like standing a ladder straight up against a wall.
The workers will erect the flagpole near the gate.
Volunteers erected the statue on its new base.
Similarraise, hoist
Oppositelower
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6
verbtransitive
To make something stand up or stick out.
Like a cat puffing its fur up to look bigger.
A scared cat can erect its fur to seem bigger.
The bird erected its crest as a warning.
Similarraise, lift
Oppositelower, flatten
7
verbintransitive
Of a penis or clitoris, to become firm and stiff from sexual arousal.
He found he could no longer erect reliably after the surgery.
The tissue erects as blood fills it.
Similarstiffen, harden
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8
verbtransitive
To start or set up something new, like a group or system.
Like starting a new club and giving it rules.
The settlers wanted to erect a new system of laws.
They erected a charity in his memory.
Similarestablish, found, create, institute, form
Oppositeabolish, dissolve
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9
verbtransitive
To build up a claim or conclusion from reasons or facts.
Like building a tower of ideas, with each one resting on the one below.
From a few facts he tried to erect a whole theory.
Critics said she erected big claims on weak evidence.
Similarbuild, construct, base, found
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10
verbtransitive
To lift something up, or to praise and honor it highly.
Like lifting someone onto your shoulders so everyone can see and cheer them.
They erect his good name with every story they tell.
The crowd's cheers erected the champion to hero status.
Similarexalt, elevate, raise
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11
verbtransitive
To cheer someone up, or to give them courage and fresh energy.
Like a cold drink that wakes you up when you feel worn out.
Her warm words erect the whole team before a big game.
A short rest can erect a tired worker for the rest of the day.
Similarhearten, encourage, embolden, cheer, rouse
Oppositediscourage, dishearten, demoralize
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12
adjective
Watching carefully and ready, not missing anything that happens.
vigilant and erect attention of mind
1594, Richard Hooker, Of the Lawes of Ecclesiastical PolitieHere, erect means alert and watchful, ready and paying close attention.
Similaralert, watchful, vigilant
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13
adjective
Raised and pointing upward, like a bird's lifted wings.
Like a flag that lifts straight up when the wind catches it.
The eagle's wings were erect on the painted shield.
On the banner, the serpent's head stood erect above its coils.
Similarraised, upright
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14
verbintransitive
To spin up and tilt into a straight upright position.
Like a spinning top that stands up straight once it gets going fast.
The gyroscope began to erect as soon as power reached it.
Once the rotor spins fast enough, the instrument will erect on its own.
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15
verbtransitive
To work out and draw up a chart showing where the stars and planets sit.
A woman asked where her lost ring was, so the astrologer decided to erect a chart for that very minute.
Her phone app erects a chart in seconds, but she still checks the planets by hand.
Similarcast, draw
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16
adjectiveobsolete
Turned to face or point upward, toward the sky.
His piercing Eyes, erect, appear to vievv / Superior VVorlds, and look all Nature thro'.
1715, [Alexander] Pope, The Temple of Fame: A VisionHere, erect means turned upward, looking toward the sky.
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17
adjectiveobsolete
Feeling bold and confident, not sad or afraid.
But who is he, by years / Bowed, but erect in heart?
1827, [John Keble], The Christian Year: Thoughts in Verse for the Sundays and Holydays throughout the YearHere, erect means bold and confident, not sad or afraid.
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Practice

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Origins

Meanings 1, 3–4, 12–13, 16–17

From Latin ērectus, meaning "upright." It comes from a verb meaning "to raise or set up."

Meanings 2, 5–11, 14–15

From Middle English erecten, made from the adjective erect.