Meaning of heave in English

1. Pronunciation

   /hiv/

   US accent

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   UK accent

   How to pronounce heave in British English, in context ▾
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1. Verb

   heave

   Etymology

   Old English hebban, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch heffen and German heben‘lift up’

   Definitions

   1. utter a sound, as with obvious effort

   Examples

   • « She heaved a deep sigh when she saw the list of things to do »
2. 2. throw with great effort
3. 3. rise and move, as in waves or billows

   Examples

   • « The army surged forward »
4. 4. lift or elevate
5. 5. nautical: to move or cause to move in a specified way, direction, or position

   Examples

   • « The vessel hove into sight »
6. 6. breathe noisily, as when one is exhausted

   Examples

   • « The runners reached the finish line, panting heavily »
7. 7. bend out of shape, as under pressure or from heat

   Examples

   • « The highway buckled during the heatwave »
8. 8. make an unsuccessful effort to vomit

   Examples

   • « strain to vomit »

9. Noun

   heave

   Definitions

   1. an upward movement (especially a rhythmical rising and falling)

   Examples

   • « the heaving of waves on a rough sea »
10. 2. (geology) a horizontal dislocation
11. 3. the act of lifting something with great effort
12. 4. an involuntary spasm of ineffectual vomiting

    Examples

    • « a bad case of the heaves »
13. 5. the act of raising something

    Examples

    • « he responded with a lift of his eyebrow »
    • « fireman learn several different raises for getting ladders up »
14. 6. throwing something heavy (with great effort)

    Examples

    • « he gave it a mighty heave »
    • « he was not good at heaving passes »