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:
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the motorist's field of vision.
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(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.
