Join Us On

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

Thesaurus

Medical

Scrabble^®

Spanish Central

Browse Dictionary Browse Thesaurus

Get our free apps!iPhone•iPad•Android

Dictionary

¹erect

adjective \i-ˈrekt\

: straight up and down

: in a state of erection because of sexual excitement : swollen and stiff

Full Definition of ERECT

a : vertical in position; also : not spread out or decumbent <an erect plant stem> <columns still erect in the ruins>

b : standing up or out from the body <erect hairs>

c : characterized by firm or rigid straightness in bodily posture <an erect bearing>

archaic : directed upward

obsolete : alert, watchful

: being in a state of physiological erection

— erect·ly \-ˈrek-(t)lē\ adverb

— erect·ness \-ˈrek(t)-nəs\ noun

See erect defined for English-language learners

See erect defined for kids

Origin of ERECT

Middle English, from Latin erectus, past participle of erigere to erect, from e- + regere to lead straight, guide — more at right

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to ERECT

Synonyms: perpendicular, plumb, raised, standing, stand-up, upright, upstanding, vertical

Antonyms: flat, recumbent

Rhymes with ERECT

abject, advect, affect, aspect, bisect, cathect, collect, confect, connect, convect, correct, cowl-necked, defect, deflect, deject, detect, direct, Dordrecht, effect, eject, elect, ewe-necked, expect, goosenecked, infect, inflect, inject, insect, inspect, neglect, object, pandect, porrect, prefect, prelect, project, prospect, protect, refect, reflect, reject, resect, respect, ring-necked, roll-necked, select, stiff-necked, subject, suspect, traject, transect, trisect, Utrecht, V-necked

²erect

verb

: to build (something) by putting together materials

: to set or place (something) so that it stands up

Full Definition of ERECT

transitive verb

a (1) : to put up by the fitting together of materials or parts : build (2) : to fix in an upright position (3) : to cause to stand up or stand out

b archaic : to direct upward

c : to change (an image) from an inverted to a normal position

: to elevate in status

: set up, establish

obsolete : encourage, embolden

: to draw or construct (as a perpendicular or figure) upon a given base

— erect·able \-ˈrek-tə-bəl\ adjective

See erect defined for English-language learners

First Known Use of ERECT

15th century

Related to ERECT

Synonyms: pitch, put up, raise, rear, set up, upend, upraise

Antonyms: demount, disassemble, dismantle, dismember, knock down, strike, take down, tear down

Other Building Terms

batten, cistern, hearth, lath, transom, wainscot

ERECT Defined for Kids

¹erect

adjective \i-ˈrekt\

Definition of ERECT for Kids

: straight up and down <an erect tree> <The soldiers stood erect.>

Word Root of ERECT

The Latin word rēctus, meaning “straight” or “right,” gives us the root rect. Words from the Latin rēctus have something to do with being straight or correct. Something erect stands straight up. Something correct is right. A rectangle is a shape made of four straight lines and four right angles.