heave

heave Definition

heave (hēv)

transitive verb heaved, hove, heav′·ing

to raise or lift, esp. with effort
1. to lift in this way and throw or cast
2. to throw
to make rise or swell, as one's chest
to utter (a sigh, groan, etc.) with great effort or pain
Geol. to displace (a stratum or vein), as by the intersection of another stratum or vein
Naut. to raise, haul, pull, move, etc. by pulling with a rope or cable

Etymology: ME heven < OE hebban, akin to Ger heben (Goth hafjan) < IE base *kap-, to seize, grasp > have, L capere

intransitive verb

to swell up; bulge out
to rise and fall rhythmically heaving waves
to make strenuous, spasmodic movements of the throat, chest, or stomach; specif.,
1. to retch; vomit or try to vomit
2. to pant; breathe hard; gasp
Naut.
1. to tug or haul (on or at a cable, rope, etc.)
2. to push (at a capstan to turn it)
3. to proceed; move a ship hove into sight

noun

the act or effort of heaving
a throw
Geol.
1. the extent of horizontal displacement caused by a fault
2. an upward displacement of soil, rocks, etc., usually caused by frost or moisture

heave Related Forms

heav′er noun

heave Idioms

heave ho!

an exclamation used by sailors, as when heaving in the anchor

heave to

Naut. to stop forward movement, esp. by bringing the vessel's head into the wind and keeping it there
to stop

heave Synonyms

throw, hurl, fling, cast, wing, toss; see also pitch 2.

heave Synonyms

To raise laboriously
lift, hoist, boost; see raise 1.
To rise and fall
rock, bob, pitch, go up and down, lurch, roll, reel, sway, swell, pant, palpitate, dilate, expand, billow, swirl, throb, waft, ebb and flow, wax and wane, undulate, puff, slosh, wash; see also flow 3, toss 2, wave 3, 4.
Antonyms rest*, lie still, quiet.
To throw
hurl, fling, cast; see throw 1.

heave Usage Examples

Object

sigh: However, borrowers can finally heave a sigh of relief.
bosom: Not that I looked at her taut heaving bosom or anything like that.
throng: The others agreed and Gieve soon vanished into the heaving throng.
crowd: Also, we had to obey traffic the traffic laws, avoid dangerous lorries and steer round heaving crowds of shoppers.
mass: The surface of any star is a continously heaving mass of burning gases, not a neat pinpoint of pure white light.
breast: The accomplished lady's eyes really moved, her breast heaved.

Adjective modifier

Preposition: into

sight: After three hours on the fixed ropes and with the light fading the welcoming domes of Camp 2 hove into sight.
view: No sooner had they left, then a couple of Angle Sharks, followed by a Guitar Shark hove into view on the seabed.

Modifies a noun

ho: A few weeks ago I decided I was ok enough to give the tablets a big heave ho.

Modifying Another Word

absolutely: You know what Jerusalem's like at Passover - absolutely heaving, stuffed full of folk!
strongly: Vahesian's arm strains mightily and yours moves slightly downward... You smile You heave strongly and Vahesian's arm creeps slightly downward!
away: All right now, " he shouted, " heave away!
then: I put the leaves into a large garden carry bag then heave them over into the cage in one go.
still: When he stopped speaking his chest was still heaving with emotion.

Noun used with modifier

frost: Firm back newly planted trees and shrubs if they have been lifted by frost heave or by strong winds.
ground: Grate waves were running through the earth, making the ground heave like a storm tossed sea.

Preposition: in

Followed by an intransitive particle

up: A useful trick is to let your legs to do the work, and not to heave up on your fingers.

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