fi:ld n. & v. --n. 1 an
area of
open land,
esp.
one used
for pasture or crops,
often bounded by hedges, fences, etc. 2 an area
rich in
some natural product (gas field;
diamond field). 3 a
piece of land for a specified
purpose, esp. an area
marked out for games (football field). 4 a
the participants in a
contest or
sport. b
all the competitors in a race or all
except those specified. 5 Cricket a the
side fielding. b a
fielder. 6 an
expanse of
ice,
snow,
sea,
sky, etc. 7 a the ground on
which a
battle is
fought; a
battlefield (left
his rival in
possession of the field). b the
scene of a
campaign. c (attrib.) (of
artillery etc.)
light and mobile for
use on campaign. d a battle. 8 an area of
operation or
activity; a
subject of
study (each
supreme in his
own field). 9 a the
region in which a force is
effective (gravitational field;
magnetic field). b the force exerted in
such an area. 10 a
range of
perception (field of
view;
wide field of
vision; filled the field of the telescope). 11
Math. a
system subject to
two operations
analogous to those for the
multiplication and
addition of real numbers. 12 (attrib.) a (of an
animal or plant) found in the
countryside,
wild (field mouse). b carried out or
working in the natural
environment,
not in a
laboratory etc. (field test). 13 a the
background of a
picture,
coin, flag, etc. b
Heraldry the
surface of an
escutcheon or of one of
its divisions. 14 Computing a
part of a
record, representing an
item of
data. --v. 1 Cricket,
Baseball , etc. a intr.
act as a
fieldsman. b tr.
stop (and return) (the ball). 2 tr.
select (a
team or individual) to
play in a game. 3 tr. deal
with (a
succession of questions etc.). øfield-book a
book used in the field by a
surveyor for
technical notes. field-cornet S.Afr.
hist. a
minor magistrate. field-day 1 wide scope for
action or
success; a
time occupied with
exciting events (when crowds
form, pickpockets
have a field-day). 2
Mil. an
exercise, esp. in manoeuvring; a
review. 3 a
day spent in
exploration,
scientific investigation,
etc., in the natural environment. field events
athletic sports
other than races (e.g. shot-putting, jumping, discus-throwing). field-glasses
binoculars for
outdoor use. field
goal US
Football &
Basketball a goal scored
when the ball is in
normal play. field hockey US =
HOCKEY(1). field
hospital a
temporary hospital
near a battlefield. Field
Marshal Brit. an
army officer of the highest rank. field
mouse a
small rodent, Apodemus sylvaticus, with
beady eyes,
prominent ears, and a long tail. field
mushroom the
edible fungus Agaricus campestris. field
mustard charlock. field officer an army officer of field rank. field of
honour the
place where a
duel or battle is fought. field rank
any rank in the army
above captain and
below general. field sports outdoor sports, esp.
hunting,
shooting, and
fishing. field
telegraph a
movable telegraph for use on campaign. hold the field not be superseded. in the field 1 campaigning. 2 working etc.
away from one's laboratory,
headquarters, etc.
keep the field
continue a campaign. play the field colloq.
avoid exclusive attachment to one
person or activity etc.
take the field 1
begin a campaign. 2 (of a sports team) go on to a pitch to begin a game. [OE feld f. WG]