piloerection

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "piloerection" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in biological or physiological contexts to describe the process where hair stands on end, often in response to cold or emotional stimuli. Example: "During the cold winter months, many people experience piloerection as their body attempts to conserve heat."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

All animals were observed and developed signs of infection (piloerection, lethargy, tachypnea or weight loss).

Intensive Care Medicine Experimental

Seizures in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) can cause cutaneous autonomic symptoms, including flushing, pallor, sweating and piloerection.

Clinical Neurophysiology

Postural communication in wolves consists of a variety of facial expressions, tail positions and piloerection.

Wikipedia

During piloerection, the guard hairs on the back are raised and the skin folds spread, thus releasing scent.

Wikipedia

Within an hour victims generally develop more severe local pain with local sweating and sometimes piloerection (goosebumps).

Wikipedia

Dominance is also established through biting (especially of the ears), piloerection, aggressive noises, head thrusts, and leaping attacks.

Wikipedia

Although none of the doses induced lethality, multiple injections of OMVs (5 µg) caused eye exudates and piloerection (Fig. 3B).

Plosone

Based on the piloerection intensity data, onset and offset of piloerection were identified.

Biological Psychology

Participants reported to experience piloerection when no piloerection was detected in 11% of the trials.

Biological Psychology

The subjective experience associated with the piloerection condition was compared to the matched no-piloerection condition.

Biological Psychology

Piloerection incidence was contrasted with the incidence of subjective reports on piloerection and chills.

Biological Psychology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about physiological responses, use "piloerection" to maintain a formal or scientific tone, especially in medical or biological contexts.

Common error

Avoid assuming "piloerection" is always a sign of fear or cold; it can also indicate strong emotional responses like awe or nostalgia. Provide context to clarify the cause.

Linguistic Context

Piloerection" functions primarily as a noun, denoting a physiological response. It is often used in medical, scientific, and general contexts to describe the erection of hairs or papillae on the skin. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable status in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

75%

Wiki

20%

News & Media

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "piloerection" is a grammatically correct and frequently used noun that describes the erection of hairs on the skin, often referred to as goosebumps. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in English writing. It's commonly found in scientific and medical contexts, as well as general discussions, to precisely describe this physiological response to cold, fear, or emotional stimuli. While "goosebumps" is a more common synonym, "piloerection" offers a more formal and technical alternative. Remember to provide context to clarify the trigger behind "piloerection", as it can be both a physical and emotional response.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

goosebumps

A common term for the same physiological phenomenon, but less formal.

goose pimples

Another common synonym for piloerection, generally used in informal contexts.

horripilation

A more formal and technical synonym for piloerection.

hair standing on end

Describes the physical manifestation of piloerection.

pilomotor response

Focuses on the muscular reflex causing the hair to stand.

cutaneous vasoconstriction

Related physiological response that often accompanies piloerection.

cold shivers

Describes one potential cause/sensation associated with piloerection.

skin crawling

A sensation sometimes associated with piloerection, especially due to fear or unease.

shuddering

An involuntary trembling response that can trigger piloerection.

frisson

Describes the emotional shiver caused by aesthetically pleasing stimuli, which also includes piloerection.

FAQs

How to use "piloerection" in a sentence?

"Piloerection" typically describes a physiological response. For example, "The patient exhibited "piloerection due to cold"" or "Emotional music triggered "piloerection"."

What can I say instead of "piloerection"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "goosebumps" for a more common term, or "horripilation" for a more formal or medical term.

What causes "piloerection"?

"Piloerection" can be triggered by various factors including cold temperatures, fear, strong emotions, or certain medical conditions. The underlying mechanism involves the contraction of tiny muscles at the base of each hair follicle.

Is "piloerection" the same as having chills?

While "piloerection" can accompany chills, they are not exactly the same. Chills often involve a sensation of coldness and shivering, whereas "piloerection" specifically refers to the erection of hairs due to muscle contraction, even if the sensation of cold is not present.