Entry 3 senses · 3 variants Webster, 1913 Hove /hōv/ · IPA /hoʊv/ imp. & p. p. v. i. & t. v. i. 01 imp. & p. p. imp. & p. p. of Heave. 1. imp. & p. p. of Heave. See: Heave Phrases & compounds Hove short — See To heave a cable short, To heave a ship to, etc., under Heave. 02 v. i. & t. To rise; to swell; to heave; to cause to swell. 1. To rise; to swell; to heave; to cause to swell.[Obs. or Scot.] 03 v. i. To hover around; to loiter; to lurk. 1. To hover around; to loiter; to lurk.[Obs.]