Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Capable of becoming rigid and enlarged when filled with blood: Describes tissues or organs, typically in the body, that can become stiff and enlarged due to blood flow, often in a sexual context.
   • Capable of being raised to an upright position: Describes structures that can be physically erected or stood upright.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective:
  • The penis is an erectile organ.
  • Erectile tissue is found in various parts of the body.
  • Some bird species have erectile crests that they can raise when alarmed.

Advanced Usage

• "erectile dysfunction": A medical condition where an erectile organ, typically the penis, cannot achieve or maintain sufficient rigidity for sexual activity.
  • He consulted a doctor about his erectile dysfunction.

Variants and Related Words

• Erect (verb): To construct, build, or raise something to an upright position.
  • They plan to erect a new monument.
• Erection (noun):
  • The process of erecting a structure.
  • The state of an erectile organ when it becomes rigid and enlarged.

Synonyms

• Tumescent: Swollen or becoming swollen, especially with fluid.
• Expandable: Capable of being enlarged or expanded.

Related Phrases

• Erectile capability: The ability of a tissue or organ to become erect.
  • The drug aims to improve erectile capability.

Related Idioms

(No common idioms are directly formed with the word "erectile".)

Adjective

1. filled with vascular sinuses and capable of becoming distended and rigid as the result of being filled with blood
   • erectile tissue
   • the penis is an erectile organ
2. capable of being raised to an upright position
   • erectile feathers