erect

Erect is an adjective meaning standing upright, vertical, or raised. It can describe people, objects, plants, or structures that are oriented with their length aligned with gravity. It is commonly used for posture, forms, or positions, such as an erect stance or an erect tree. As a verb, erect means to construct or raise something, for example to erect a building or to erect a statue. The noun form is erection.

Etymology: from Latin erigere, to raise up, from e- (up) and regere or rigere (to set straight). The sense of vertical position developed in English over the Middle Ages.

Biology and medicine: In humans, erection refers to the physiological process by which a body part becomes firm and engorged with blood, typically involving the penis. It is a part of sexual arousal and reproductive function; erections can also occur in other tissues, such as the clitoris or nipples, in certain contexts. The process involves vascular, neurological, hormonal, and psychological factors and can be affected by health conditions, medications, or stress.

Other uses: In construction and design, erect describes the vertical orientation of elements or the act of building; for example, erecting a scaffold or erecting a monument. In botany, some plants are described as erect if they grow upright rather than creeping or trailing.

See also: upright, vertical, posture, erection (biology).