— erectable , adj. — erectly , adv. — erectness , n.
/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. Bot. vertical throughout; not spreading or declined: an erect stem; an erect leaf or ovule.
4. Heraldry.
a. (of a charge) represented palewise: a sword erect.
b. (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. 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. 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. Mach. to assemble; make ready for use.
v.i.
14. to become erect; stand up or out.
[ 1350-1400; ME erectus raised up (ptp. of erigere ), equiv. to e- E- + reg- guide, direct (see ROYAL) + -tus ptp. suffix ]
Syn. 1. standing, vertical. See upright. 6. upraise.
Ant. 1. reclining.