/ hiːv; NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb
1.
[+ adv. / prep. ] to lift, pull or throw sb/sth very heavy with one great effort :
[ vn ]
I managed to heave the trunk down the stairs.
They heaved the body overboard.
[ v ]
We all heaved on the rope.
2.
[ v ] heave (with sth) to rise up and down with strong, regular movements :
The boat heaved beneath them.
Her shoulders heaved with laughter.
3.
[ vn ] heave a sigh, etc. to make a sound slowly and often with effort :
We all heaved a sigh of relief .
4.
[ v ] to experience the tight feeling in your stomach that you get before you vomit :
The thought of it makes me heave.
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IDIOMS
- heave into sight / view
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PHRASAL VERBS
- heave to
■ noun
1.
[ C ] an act of lifting, pulling or throwing :
With a mighty heave he lifted the sack onto the truck.
2.
[ U ] (especially literary ) a rising and falling movement :
the steady heave of the sea
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English hebban , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch heffen and German heben lift up.