erect
erect — adjective
1. Describes a person's body position when the spine is held straight and the head
Describes a person's body position when the spine is held straight and the head is naturally balanced above the shoulders, rather than being bent forward or slouched.
Bilal stood erect at the back of the hall while the national anthem played.
stand erect — formal posture of respect
The elderly woman walked with a cane but kept her back beautifully erect.
Sitting erect at a desk all day can hurt your lower back.
The dance instructor told the children to hold their bodies erect and lift their chins.
用法筆記
Less common in everyday speech than alternatives such as 'straight' or 'upright'. Most often found in formal descriptions of posture, military contexts, or writing about dance and deportment.
2. Standing or placed in a position that is at a right angle to the ground, without
Standing or placed in a position that is at a right angle to the ground, without leaning to either side.
The old pillars remained erect after the earthquake destroyed most houses.
remain erect — staying upright despite force
The flagpole stood perfectly erect in the centre of the school courtyard.
stood + erect — describing an object's vertical position
The fence posts remained erect after the heavy storm knocked down several trees.
Street lamps stood erect along both sides of the newly paved road.
- horizontal
parallel to the ground
- leaning
at an angle, not fully vertical
常見錯誤
3. Of certain body tissues — such as the nipples, hair follicles, or reproductive o
Of certain body tissues — such as the nipples, hair follicles, or reproductive organs — becoming firmer, larger, and raised from the surrounding surface as a result of muscle contraction or increased blood flow.
The kitten's fur stood erect along its spine when it saw the neighbour's dog.
fur/hair stands erect — piloerection response
Sana noticed her nipples had become erect in the cold wind outside the station.
An erect nipple can be a normal physical response to cold temperatures or gentle touch.
The cold morning air made the tiny hairs on Adisa's arms stand erect.
- flaccid
soft and relaxed, the opposite of erect tissue
用法筆記
Describes a physical, anatomical state of certain body tissues, not an emotional one. The most commonly understood association is with penile erection, but the word also applies to nipples (from cold or touch) and hair standing on end (goosebumps). In neutral contexts — such as describing fur or a cold response — the synonym 'stood up' or 'raised' may be clearer to avoid unwanted sexual overtones.
常見錯誤
erect — verb
1. To put up a large physical structure — such as a building, wall, monument, or br
To put up a large physical structure — such as a building, wall, monument, or bridge — by assembling its materials and parts in a fixed location.
The council plans to erect a public library on the old market site.
erect + public building — formal equivalent of 'build'
Workers erected a temporary fence around the construction site to keep people out.
A bronze statue was erected in the square to honour fallen soldiers.
Gabriel helped his uncle erect a wooden shed in the backyard over one weekend.
文法句型
erect + noun phrase (structure)
用法筆記
More formal than 'build' and typically used for structures that are fixed in place and noticeably tall or vertical. Use 'build' for ordinary houses, roads, or small items. Do not use 'erect' for abstract things like businesses or systems — use 'establish' or 'set up' instead.
常見錯誤
2. To lift an object from a flat, folded, or angled position into a straight, stand
To lift an object from a flat, folded, or angled position into a straight, standing orientation.
The campers erected the tent before the rain started falling.
erect + tent — raising a collapsible structure
It took four people to erect the heavy stage backdrop for the concert.
Aarav carefully erected the easel and clipped a fresh canvas onto it.
The rescue team erected a long ladder against the side of the burning building.
文法句型
erect + noun phrase (object to be raised)
用法筆記
Focuses on the action of raising something that was not upright before. Overlaps with verb sense 1 when the object is a collapsible structure (such as a tent or a stage). The difference is that sense 1 emphasises building or assembling, while sense 2 emphasises the motion of lifting into a vertical position.