[count] 1 a : an open area of land without trees or buildings
▪ He gazed out across the fields. ▪ a grassy/muddy field ▪ green fields ▪ an open field — see also ice field
b : an area of land that has a special use
▪ farm fields ▪ a field of wheat = a wheat field ▪ cotton/tobacco fields — see color picture; see also oil field 2 : an area of work, study, etc.
▪ She hopes to find work in the health field. ▪ She is a pioneer/leader in the field of genetic research. ▪ a lawyer who is eminent in his field ▪ working in his chosen field ▪ fields of learning/interest/study ▪ a fascinating field of endeavor 3 a : an area of land that is used for sports
▪ football/athletic/baseball/soccer fields ▪ a ball field ▪ The home team took the field. [=ran out onto the field to begin play] ▪ Spectators are not allowed on the field of play. [=playing field] ▪ The team has been tough to beat on its home field. [=its own field where it plays in front of its fans] ◊In a baseball or cricket game, when one team is batting the other team is in the field. — see also center field, field event, left field, playing field, right field, track and field
b ◊In basketball a shot taken from the field is a shot taken during ordinary play rather than a free throw.
▪ They shot well from the field but they missed too many free throws. 4 : the area where work is done away from a laboratory, office, etc.
▪ archaeologists/salesmen working in the field — often used before another noun ▪ She will be doing field research in South America. ▪ field studies ▪ The product has been tested under field conditions of actual use. ▪ field workers — see also field-test, fieldwork 5 : the group of people, horses, teams, etc., that are in a race or other competition
▪ a race with a large field of runners ▪ The presidential election has attracted a large field of candidates. ▪ She was leading/trailing the field by a wide margin. — often used figuratively ▪ The company is working hard to stay/keep ahead of the field. [=to continue to be more successful than its competitors] 6 : a place where battles and other military activities happen
▪ the field of battle ▪ soldiers in the field — see also battlefield, landing field, minefield 7 : a region or space in which an effect or force (such as gravity, electricity, or magnetism) exists
▪ an electric/magnetic field 8 : an area in which a particular type of information is placed
▪ You must complete all fields before submitting the form. ▪ (computers) The database is separated into several different fields. 9 : field of vision
▪ Nothing moved within his visual field. — see also field of view