heaves

Noun

heave (countable and uncountable, plural heaves)

1. (countable) An effort to raise something, such as a weight or one's own body, or to move something heavy.
   • We gave one more heave and the wall toppled over at last.
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.
   • and now the bed shook, the curtains rattled so, that I could scarce hear the sighs and murmurs, the heaves and pantings that accompanied the action, from the beginning to the end1749, [John Cleland], “(Please specify the letter or volume)”, in Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure [Fanny Hill], London: […] [Thomas Parker] for G. Fenton [i.e., Fenton and Ralph Griffiths] […], →OCLC
3. A horizontal dislocation in a metallic lode, taking place at an intersection with another lode.
4. The measure of extent to which a nautical vessel goes up and down in a short period of time.
5. An effort to vomit; retching.
6. (attributive, rare) Broken wind in horses.
   • The dust would have to be watched out for with a heave horse, and most alfalfa hay...1928, Farm Life - Volume 47, Issue 1, page 24

See all 20 meanings of heave