Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Erect \E*rect"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Erected}; p. pr. & vb. n.
   {Erecting}.]
   1. To raise and place in an upright or perpendicular
      position; to set upright; to raise; as, to erect a pole, a
      flagstaff, a monument, etc.

   2. To raise, as a building; to build; to construct; as, to
      erect a house or a fort; to set up; to put together the
      component parts of, as of a machine.

   3. To lift up; to elevate; to exalt; to magnify.

            That didst his state above his hopes erect.
                                                  --Daniel.

            I, who am a party, am not to erect myself into a
            judge.                                --Dryden.

   4. To animate; to encourage; to cheer.

            It raiseth the dropping spirit, erecting it to a
            loving complaisance.                  --Barrow.

   5. To set up as an assertion or consequence from premises, or
      the like. ``To erect conclusions.'' --Sir T. Browne.
      ``Malebranche erects this proposition.'' --Locke.

   6. To set up or establish; to found; to form; to institute.
      ``To erect a new commonwealth.'' --Hooker.

   {Erecting shop} (Mach.), a place where large machines, as
      engines, are put together and adjusted.

   Syn: To set up; raise; elevate; construct; build; institute;
        establish; found.

Erect \E*rect"\, a. [L. erectus, p. p. of erigere to erect; e
   out + regere to lead straight. See {Right}, and cf. {Alert}.]
   1. Upright, or having a vertical position; not inverted; not
      leaning or bent; not prone; as, to stand erect.

            Two of far nobler shape, erect and tall. --Milton.

            Among the Greek colonies and churches of Asia,
            Philadelphia is still erect -- a column of ruins.
                                                  --Gibbon.

   2. Directed upward; raised; uplifted.

            His piercing eyes, erect, appear to view Superior
            worlds, and look all nature through.  --Pope.

   3. Bold; confident; free from depression; undismayed.

            But who is he, by years Bowed, but erect in heart?
                                                  --Keble.

   4. Watchful; alert.

            Vigilant and erect attention of mind. --Hooker.

   5. (Bot.) Standing upright, with reference to the earth's
      surface, or to the surface to which it is attached.

   6. (Her.) Elevated, as the tips of wings, heads of serpents,
      etc.

Erect \E*rect"\, v. i.
   To rise upright. [Obs.]

         By wet, stalks do erect.                 --Bacon.

Source : WordNet®

erect
     adj 1: upright in position or posture; "an erect stature"; "erect
            flower stalks"; "for a dog, an erect tail indicates
            aggression"; "a column still vertical amid the ruins";
            "he sat bolt upright" [syn: {vertical}, {upright}]
            [ant: {unerect}]
     2: of sexual organs; stiff and rigid [syn: {tumid}]

erect
     v 1: construct, build, or erect; "Raise a barn" [syn: {raise}, {rear},
           {set up}, {put up}] [ant: {level}]
     2: cause to rise up [syn: {rear}]