n. [ L. erectio: cf. F. érection. ] 1. The act of erecting, or raising upright; the act of constructing, as a building or a wall, or of fitting together the parts of, as a machine; the act of founding or establishing, as a commonwealth or an office; also, the act of rousing to excitement or courage. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. The state of being erected, lifted up, built, established, or founded; exaltation of feelings or purposes. [ 1913 Webster ] Her peerless height my mind to high erection draws up. Sidney [ 1913 Webster ] 3. State of being stretched to stiffness; tension. [ 1913 Webster ] 4. Anything erected; a building of any kind. [ 1913 Webster ] 5. (Physiol.) The state of a body part which, from having been soft, has become hard and swollen by the accumulation of blood in the erectile tissue; -- used especially of the penis; as, to get or have an erection. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ] |