First Known Use: before 12th century
Dictionary
1heave
verb \ˈhēv\
: to lift or pull (something) with effort
: to throw (something) with effort
: to breathe in and breathe out (a sigh) in a slow or loud way
heaved or hove \ˈhōv\ heav·ing
Full Definition of HEAVE
transitive verb
1
obsolete : elevate
4
a : to cause to swell or rise b : to displace (as a rock stratum) especially by a fault
5
: to utter with obvious effort or with a deep breath <heave a sigh of relief>
intransitive verb
2
: retch
3
a : to rise and fall rhythmically b : pant
4
5
: to rise or become thrown or raised up
— heav·er noun
— heave to
: to halt the headway of a ship (as by positioning a sailboat with the jib aback and the rudder turned sharply to windward)
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Origin of HEAVE
Middle English heven, from Old English hebban; akin to Old High German hevan to lift, Latin capere to take
Synonym Discussion of HEAVE
lift, raise, rear, elevate, hoist, heave, boost mean to move from a lower to a higher place or position. lift usually implies exerting effort to overcome resistance of weight <lift the chair while I vacuum>. raise carries a stronger implication of bringing up to the vertical or to a high position <scouts raising a flagpole>. rear may add an element of suddenness to raise <suddenly reared itself up on its hind legs>. elevate may replace lift or raise especially when exalting or enhancing is implied <elevated the taste of the public>. hoist implies lifting something heavy especially by mechanical means <hoisted the cargo on board>. heave implies lifting and throwing with great effort or strain <heaved the heavy crate inside>. boost suggests assisting to climb or advance by a push <boosted his brother over the fence>.
2heave
noun
: an act of lifting or pulling something with effort
: a forceful throw
Full Definition of HEAVE
2
: an upward motion : rising; especially : a rhythmical rising
3
: horizontal displacement especially by the faulting of a rock
4
plural but sing or plural in constr : chronic pulmonary emphysema of the horse resulting in difficult expiration, heaving of the flanks, and a persistent cough
See heave defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of HEAVE
circa 1571
Other Geology Terms
HEAVES Defined for Kids
1heave
verb \ˈhēv\
heaved or hove \ˈhōv\heav·ing
Definition of HEAVE for Kids
1
: to raise with an effort <Help me heave this box onto the truck.>
3
: to utter with an effort <She heaved a sigh of relief.>
4
: to rise and fall again and again <The runner's chest was heaving.>
5
: to be thrown or raised up <Frost caused the ground to heave.>
2heave
noun
Definition of HEAVE for Kids
1
: an effort to lift or raise <With a final heave they jammed him into the crate. — E. B. White, Charlotte's Web>
2
: a forceful throw
3
: an upward motion (as of the chest in breathing or of waves in motion)
Medical Dictionary
heave
verb \ˈhēv\
heavedheav·ing
Medical Definition of HEAVE
transitive verb
: vomit <got carsick and heaved his lunch>
intransitive verb
: to undergo retching or vomiting
Learn More About HEAVE
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