Meaning of field In English

• 0 an area of land, used for growing crops or keeping animals, usually surrounded by a fence:

  • We drove past fields of ripening wheat.

  • The cows were all standing in one corner of the field.

  • I spoke to an aid worker who had recently returned from the field.

• 1 an area, usually covered with grass, used for playing sports:

  • the school playing/sports field

  • a football/hockey/rugby field

  • There were loud cheers as the Irish team took the field.

• 2 an area of activity or interest:

  • the field of history/science/medicine

  • Are you still in the same field (= are you doing the same type of work)?

  • Programming really isn't my field - you'd better ask Phil.

• 3 all the competitors taking part in a race or activity:

  • The race started with a field of eleven, but two horses fell.

  • We have a strong field this afternoon.

  • Jones finished ahead of the field.

• 4 a division of a database (= a collection of similar information on a computer) that contains a particular type of information, such as names or numbers

• 5 to catch or pick up the ball after it has been hit in a game such as cricket or baseball, and to try to prevent the other team from scoring:

  • He fielded the ball well.

  • Our team is fielding first.

• 6 to deal with a question, often by not answering it directly:

  • He fielded some awkward questions very skilfully.

• 7 to have or produce a team of people to take part in an activity or event:

  • The company fielded a group of experts to take part in the conference.

• 8 an area of land containing a particular natural substance:

  • an oilfield

  • a coalfield

• 9 an area of land with grass or crops growing on it:

  • We drove past fields of wheat.

  • an oil field

  • He was a working reporter in the field, not some anchorman in a studio.

• 10 an area in which a particular force has some effect:

  • the magnetic field that surrounds the earth

• 11 a grassy area used for playing sports:

  • He ran laps around the football field after school.

• 12 all the competitors taking part in a race or activity, or all the competitors other than the leader:

  • [ C ] The cross-country race started with a field of 85 competitors.

• 13 an area of activity or interest:

  • She is an expert in the field of economics.

• 14 to answer questions, esp. difficult or unexpected ones:

  • Be prepared to field some tough questions from the senators after your presentation.

• 15 (in baseball) to catch or pick up the ball after it has been hit in order to prevent the other team from scoring:

  • [ T ] He fielded the ball cleanly and threw to first base.

  • [ T ] The university fields teams in 14 sports.

• 16 a subject or area that you work in or study:

  • The assessment of microfinance programs remains an important field for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners.

  • I will be travelling throughout the state presenting best teaching practices in my field of expertise.

  • The institution has many top researchers in this field.

• 17 a place outside an office or laboratory (= room used for scientific work) where practical work and research is done:

  • He also trains specialists on using the software, which interprets data gathered in the field.

• 18 an area of land or a sea bed where minerals can be found:

  • oil/gas/coal field Oil companies announced plans to jointly develop a new major oil field on Alaska's North Slope.

• 19 a space in a database or file which can contain a particular type of information, for example, names or numbers:

  • Each entry in a database activity module can have multiple fields of multiple types, e.g. a text field called 'favourite colour' .

• 20 to be in the leading position in a particular area of activity:

  • A French company and its American subsidiary lead the field in selling such items.

• 21 a situation that is fair, because no competitor has an advantage over another:

  • A reduction in interest rates would enable the country's manufacturers to compete on a level playing field.

• 22 if something is outside someone's field, it is not a subject or type of work that they know much about:

  • It is not uncommon to work outside your field of expertise in today's economy.

• 23 relating to practical work and research done outside the office or laboratory (= room used for scientific work):

  • The study was based on field research and data analysis supported by the National Geographic Society.

  • Drawing on the author's field studies in the UK automobile industry, this chapter suggests that managers should not try to adopt all recommendations.

• 24 to deal with questions:

  • field questions/enquiries/queries The department also had to set up a toll-free number to field questions from anxious clients.