adjective
erect
ih-REHKT
adjective
1
Standing straight up; upright rather than leaning or bent over.
"The soldier stood perfectly erect during the inspection."
"The plant grows tall with an erect stem."
2
Of a penis or clitoris: stiff and swollen with blood, as a result of sexual arousal.
"The medical leaflet explained the causes of an erect penis."
verb
1
To build or put up (a structure), typically by fitting the parts together.
"Workers erected the scaffolding overnight."
"A statue was erected in the town square to honour the mayor."
2
To set something upright, or establish something such as an organization or system.
"The committee was erected to oversee the new regulations."
How to Use Erect
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishStanding straight upward — used for posture and physical structures, and, in its other common sense, for sexual arousal.
Common pairings
erect posture
erect a building
erect a fence
stand erect
Word Forms
more erect comparative, erected past tense, erects singular, most erect superlative
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Etymology
From Latin erectus, "raised up," the past participle of erigere — from e- ("out") plus regere ("to direct, keep straight").