erection

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erection Turgidity in a tissue brought about by distension with blood: usually referring to the enlargement and stiffening of the penis in a state of sexual arousal; also applicable to the clitoris. Given the appropriate stimulus, the arterial blood vessels dilate, blood floods into specialized ‘spongy’ tissue, and the engorgement itself blocks outflow through the compressible veins.

Stuart Judge

e·rec·tion / iˈrekshən/ • n. 1. the action of erecting a structure or object: fees will be levied for the erection of monuments. ∎  a building or other upright structure. 2. an enlarged and rigid state of the penis, typically in sexual excitement.

erection (i-rek-shŏn) n. the sexually active state of the penis, which becomes enlarged and rigid (due to the erectile tissue being swollen with blood). The term is also applied to the clitoris.

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