field
1. field \'fe-(*)ld\ n [ME, fr. OE feld; akin to OHG feld field, OE flo-r
floor] 1a: an open land area free of woods and buildings 1b1: an area of
cleared enclosed land used for cultivation or pasture 1b2: land containing
a natural resource {coal ~} 1c: the place where a battle is fought; also :
BATTLE 1d: a large unbroken expanse (as of ice) 2a: an area or division
of an activity 2b: the sphere of practical operation outside a laboratory,
office, or fact ory 2c: an area for military exercises or maneuvers 2d1:
an area for sports 2d2: the part of a sports area enclosed by a racing
track 3: a space on which something is drawn or projected : as 3a: the
space on the surface of a coin, medal, or seal that does not contai n the
design 3b: the ground of each division in a flag 3c: the whole surface of
an escutcheon 4: the individuals that make up all or part of a sports
activity : as 4a: all the participants in a contest or sporting event 4b:
all the players that are in action esp. in football 4c: the team not at
bat 5: a complex of forces that serve as causative agents in human
behavior 6a: a set of mathematical elements that is subject to two binary
operations the second of which is distributive relative to the first and
both of which yield an element and that constitutes a commutative group
under the first operation and also under the second if the zero or unit
element under the first is omitted 6b: a region or space in which a given
effect (as magnetism) exists 7: the area visible through the lens of an
optical instrument 8: a series of drain tiles and an absorption area
2. field vt 1a: to handle (as a batted ball) while playing in the field
1b: to answer satisfactorily {~ a tough question} 2: to put into the field
: to play as a fielder
3. field aj : of or relating to a field : as : growing in or inhabiting
the field or open country : made, conducted, or used in the field {~
operations} : operating or active in the field
Webster's English Dictionary