From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishheaveheave1 /hiːv/ ●○○ verb 1 pull/lift [intransitive, transitive]PULL to pull or lift something very heavy with one great effortheave somebody/something out of/into/onto etc something Alan heaved his suitcase onto his bed. Mary heaved herself out of bed.heave on/at British English We had to heave on the rope holding the anchor to get it on board.► see thesaurus at pull2 throw [transitive]THROW to throw something heavy using a lot of effort John heaved the metal bar over the fence.► see thesaurus at throw3 → heave a sigh4 move up and down [intransitive]MOVE/CHANGE POSITION to move up and down with very strong movements Michael’s shoulders heaved with silent laughter. The sea heaved up and down beneath the boat.5 vomit [intransitive] informalMI to vomit6 → heave in sight/into view → heaving → heave to→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
heave• Everyone pull together now. Are you ready? Heave!• I think I'm gonna heave.• She looked out of the now sparkling window and heaved a deep sigh.• I heave an armchair into the kitchen, lay out some light reading, and prepare a flask of coffee.• She turned her back again, her shoulders heaving, her eyes blind with tears.• He watched Joe heave his bulk out of the chair.• Joe heaved it over the fence into the alley.• Rod bent down and heaved the sack onto his shoulder.• Finally they heaved the trussed piglet into a waiting truck.• They pulled and heaved under the prodding and loud yelling of the teamster who tried to coordinate them.• Suddenly the ground heaved under their feet.• My chest was heaving with the effort.heave on/at• I grab the front of his loose blouson and I heave at it.• I heave on the baseball bat, and wrench the chain from the big guy's hand.• She heaved at the garage door, which flew up, rattling.• But the Heat did have a final heave at the hoop.heaveheave2 noun 1 [countable]PULL a strong pulling, pushing, or lifting movement He gave the door a good heave.2 [uncountable] literaryMOVE/CHANGE POSITION a strong rising or falling movementExamples from the Corpus
heave• With a heave of both arms and chest Rima pushed the cassowary through the window.• With a heave the car surged forward, Firebug rolling back into the seat.• But the Heat did have a final heave at the hoop.• With one giant heave, they loaded the sack onto the trailer.• Other matters referred to in the draft schedule include fitness for purpose, which includes liability for subsidence or heave.• My mind fell back with the heave of the train.• Had the ripple and upward heave of the cabin floor increased?Origin heave1 Old English hebban 