How Do You Spell HEAVE TO?

Pronunciation: [hˈiːv tuː] (IPA)

The phrase "heave to" is often used in nautical contexts to describe a sailing maneuver where a vessel is deliberately slowed or stopped by adjusting its sails and rudder. The IPA phonetic transcription of "heave to" is /hiːv tuː/. The "h" sound is pronounced at the beginning, followed by a long "ee" sound for the "ee" in "heave". The "v" sound is a voiced labiodental fricative while the "t" is voiceless alveolar stop. The final "o" sound is a short "u" sound.

HEAVE TO Meaning and Definition

1. "Heave to" is a nautical term used to describe a specific sailing maneuver performed by a ship or boat to temporarily halt its forward progress and maintain a stationary position, typically during adverse weather conditions or for other operational purposes. This maneuver involves adjusting the sails and rudder in a particular way to counteract the wind and current, essentially causing the vessel to stop or significantly reduce its speed.

   When a vessel "heaves to," it typically aligns itself at an angle into the wind and sea, adjusting its sails to slow down and create a drift. This is achieved by altering the positions of the sails and steering the vessel with the rudder set at an appropriate angle. The purpose of heaving to can vary, such as providing a pause to assess the situation, wait for improved weather conditions, or to stabilize the ship for various activities such as rescue operations, fishing, or repairs.

   The heave to maneuver is performed mainly in sailing vessels, as modern motorized ships have other means to maintain stability or halt their movement. It requires skill and experience from the crew to correctly apply the necessary adjustments to the sails and rudder. This maneuver allows the vessel to maintain a safe and stable position, reducing the risk of capsizing or losing control in rough seas. Overall, "heave to" is a technique used in the maritime industry to maintain control and stability during unfavorable conditions at sea.

Common Misspellings for HEAVE TO

• geave to
• beave to
• jeave to
• ueave to
• yeave to
• hwave to
• hsave to
• hdave to
• hrave to
• h4ave to
• h3ave to
• hezve to
• hesve to
• hewve to
• heqve to
• heace to
• heabe to
• heage to
• heafe to
• heavw to

Etymology of HEAVE TO

The phrase "heave to" originated from nautical terminology and has its roots in Old English.

The word "heave" comes from the Old English word "hebban", meaning "to lift" or "to raise". It was commonly used in the context of lifting or raising heavy objects on a ship, like the anchor or heavy sails.

The word "to" is a preposition, indicating a destination or goal. In the context of nautical commands, "to" is used to indicate a specific action or state.

When combined, "heave to" refers to the command given to a ship's crew to bring the vessel to a stop or to maintain a stationary position in the water. This maneuver involves adjusting the sails and rudder to create a balanced state where the ship remains essentially stationary, drifting slowly with the wind and current.

Idioms with the word HEAVE TO

• heave to The idiom "heave to" means to bring a boat to a stop by adjusting its sails and rudder in a certain way, typically done during stormy weather to maintain stability and control. It can also refer to stopping or pausing in an activity or situation.

Conjugate verb Heave to

CONDITIONAL

I would heave to

you would heave to

he/she/it would heave to

we would heave to

they would heave to

CONDITIONAL CONTINUOUS

I would be heaving to

you would be heaving to

he/she/it would be heaving to

we would be heaving to

they would be heaving to

CONDITIONAL PERFECT

I would have heave to

you would have heave to

he/she/it would have heave to

we would have heave to

they would have heave to

CONDITIONAL PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I would have been heaving to

you would have been heaving to

he/she/it would have been heaving to

we would have been heaving to

they would have been heaving to

FUTURE

I will heave to

you will heave to

he/she/it will heave to

we will heave to

they will heave to

FUTURE CONTINUOUS

I will be heaving to

you will be heaving to

he/she/it will be heaving to

we will be heaving to

they will be heaving to

FUTURE PERFECT

I will have heaved to

you will have heaved to

he/she/it will have heaved to

we will have heaved to

they will have heaved to

FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I will have been heaving to

you will have been heaving to

he/she/it will have been heaving to

we will have been heaving to

they will have been heaving to

IMPERATIVE

you heave to

we let´s heave to

NONFINITE VERB FORMS

to heave to

PAST

I heaved to

you heaved to

he/she/it heaved to

we heaved to

they heaved to

PAST CONTINUOUS

I was heaving to

you were heaving to

he/she/it was heaving to

we were heaving to

they were heaving to

PAST PARTICIPLE

heaved to

PAST PERFECT

I had heaved to

you had heaved to

he/she/it had heaved to

we had heaved to

they had heaved to

PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I had been heaving to

you had been heaving to

he/she/it had been heaving to

we had been heaving to

they had been heaving to

PRESENT

I heave to

you heave to

he/she/it heaves to

we heave to

they heave to

PRESENT CONTINUOUS

I am heaving to

you are heaving to

he/she/it is heaving to

we are heaving to

they are heaving to

PRESENT PARTICIPLE

heaving to

PRESENT PERFECT

I have heaved to

you have heaved to

he/she/it has heaved to

we have heaved to

they have heaved to

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I have been heaving to

you have been heaving to

he/she/it has been heaving to

we have been heaving to

they have been heaving to