heaves

/hiːvz/

noun

  1. 1

    An effort to raise something, such as a weight or one's own body, or to move something heavy.

  2. 2

    An upward motion; a rising; a swell or distention, as of the breast in difficult breathing, of the waves, of the earth in an earthquake, etc.

  3. 3

    A horizontal dislocation in a metallic lode, taking place at an intersection with another lode.

  4. 4

    The measure of extent to which a nautical vessel goes up and down in a short period of time. Compare pitch.

  5. 5

    An effort to vomit; retching.

  6. 6

    (only used attributively as in "heave line" or "heave horse") Broken wind in horses.

  7. 7

    A forceful shot in which the ball follows a high trajectory

verb

  1. 1

    To lift with difficulty; to raise with some effort; to lift (a heavy thing).

    We heaved the chest-of-drawers on to the second-floor landing.
  2. 2

    To throw, cast.

    The cap'n hove the body overboard.
  3. 3

    To rise and fall.

    Her chest heaved with emotion.
  4. 4

    To utter with effort.

    She heaved a sigh and stared out of the window.
  5. 5

    To pull up with a rope or cable.

    Heave up the anchor there, boys!
  6. 6

    To lift (generally); to raise, or cause to move upwards (particularly in ships or vehicles) or forwards.

  7. 7

    To be thrown up or raised; to rise upward, as a tower or mound.

  8. 8

    To displace (a vein, stratum).

  9. 9

    To cause to swell or rise, especially in repeated exertions.

    The wind heaved the waves.
  10. 10

    To move in a certain direction or into a certain position or situation.

    to heave the ship ahead
  11. 11

    To retch, to make an effort to vomit; to vomit.

    The smell of the old cheese was enough to make you heave.
  12. 12

    To make an effort to raise, throw, or move anything; to strain to do something difficult.

  13. 13

    To rob; to steal from; to plunder.

noun

  1. 1

    A period of retching.

    I have the dry heaves, I rather just throw up and get it over with.
  2. 2

    A disease of horses characterized by coughing and difficult breathing; broken wind.

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