Heave v. t. [imp. Heaved or Hove p. p. Heaved, Hove, formerly Hoven p. pr. & vb. n. Heaving.]
 1. To cause to move upward or onward by a lifting effort; to lift; to raise; to hoist; -- often with up; as, the wave heaved the boat on land.
    One heaved ahigh, to be hurled down below.   --Shak.
 Note: ☞ Heave, as now used, implies that the thing raised is heavy or hard to move; but formerly it was used in a less restricted sense.
 Here a little child I stand,
 Heaving up my either hand.   --Herrick.
 2. To throw; to cast; -- obsolete, provincial, or colloquial, except in certain nautical phrases; as, to heave the lead; to heave the log.
 3. To force from, or into, any position; to cause to move; also, to throw off; -- mostly used in certain nautical phrases; as, to heave the ship ahead.
 4. To raise or force from the breast; to utter with effort; as, to heave a sigh.
    The wretched animal heaved forth such groans.   --Shak.
 5. To cause to swell or rise, as the breast or bosom.
 The glittering, finny swarms
 That heave our friths, and crowd upon our shores.   --Thomson.
 To heave a cable short Naut., to haul in cable till the ship is almost perpendicularly above the anchor.
 To heave a ship ahead Naut., to warp her ahead when not under sail, as by means of cables.
 To heave a ship down Naut., to throw or lay her down on one side; to careen her.
 To heave a ship to Naut., to bring the ship's head to the wind, and stop her motion.
 To heave about Naut., to put about suddenly.
 To heave in Naut., to shorten (cable).
 To heave in stays Naut., to put a vessel on the other tack.
 To heave out a sail Naut., to unfurl it.
 To heave taut Naut., to turn a capstan, etc., till the rope becomes strained. See Taut, and Tight.
 To heave the lead Naut., to take soundings with lead and line.
 To heave the log. Naut. See Log.
 To heave up anchor Naut., to raise it from the bottom of the sea or elsewhere.
 Heav·ing n. A lifting or rising; a swell; a panting or deep sighing.
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 heaving
      adj : rising and falling alternately as in waves; "the heaving
            waves in the storm-tossed sea"; "the exhausted dog's
            heaving chest"
      n 1: an upward movement (especially a rhythmical rising and
           falling); "the heaving of waves on a rough sea" [syn: heave]
      2: breathing heavily (as after exertion) [syn: panting]
      3: the act of lifting something with great effort [syn: heave]
      4: throwing something heavy (with great effort); "he gave it a
         mighty heave"; "he was not good at heaving passes" [syn: heave]