n.
       - an area of open land, especially one planted with crops or pasture. 
▸a piece of land used for a sport or game.
 ▸a large area of land or water completely covered in snow or ice.
 ▸an area rich in a natural product, typically oil or gas.
 - a branch of study or sphere of activity. 
▸Computing  a part of a record, representing an item of data.
 - a space or range within which objects are visible from a viewpoint or through a piece of apparatus:
 the motorist's field of vision.
 - 
(the field)
 all the participants in a contest or sport. 
▸Cricket  fielders collectively.
 ▸a fielder of specified ability.
 - Physics  the region in which a force such as gravity or magnetism is effective, regardless of the presence or absence of a material medium.
 - Mathematics  a system subject to two binary operations analogous to those for the multiplication and addition of real numbers, and having similar commutative and distributive laws.
 - Heraldry  the surface of an escutcheon or of one of its divisions.
 
v.
   - chiefly Cricket  & Baseball  attempt to catch or stop the ball and return it after it has been hit. 
▸catch or stop (the ball) and return it.
 - select for a game or to stand in an election.
 - deal with (a difficult question, telephone call, etc.).
 
adj.
 carried out or working in the natural environment, rather than in a laboratory or office. 
▸(of military equipment) light and mobile for use on campaign.
 ▸used in names of animals or plants found in the open country, e.g. field mouse.
 
  Phrase
  
    - hold the field
 remain the most important.  - in the field
  - engaged in combat or manoeuvres.
 - engaged in fieldwork.
 
  - play the field
 informal indulge in a series of casual sexual relationships.  - take the field
  - (of a team) go on to a field to begin a game.
 - start a military campaign.
 
 
   
  Etymology
  OE feld, of W. Gmc origin.