field noun - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes | Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary at OxfordLearnersDictionaries.com

Definition of field noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

field

noun
 
/fiːld/
 
/fiːld/
Idioms
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    area of land

  1. [countable] an area of land in the country used for growing crops or keeping animals in, usually surrounded by a fence, etc.
    • We had to walk across a ploughed field.
    • in a field We camped in a field near the village.
    • People were working in the fields.
    • field of something We saw golden fields of wheat.
    • He planted a field of beans.
    • a rice/wheat field
    • The house overlooks the sugar cane fields.
    see also cornfield
    Collocations FarmingFarmingGrowing food and raising animals
    • plant trees/​seeds/​crops/​vines/​barley
    • grow/​produce corn/​wheat/​rice/​fruit
    • plough/(North American English) plow land/​a field
    • sow/​harvest seeds/​crops/​fields
    • spread manure/​fertilizer on something
    • cultivate/​irrigate/​water/​contaminate crops/​plants/​fields/​land
    • damage/​destroy/​lose your crop
    • ripen/​pick fruit/​berries/​grapes
    • press/​dry/​ferment grapes
    • grind/​thresh grain/​corn/​wheat
    • raise/​rear/​keep chickens/​poultry/​cattle/​pigs
    • raise/​breed/​feed/​graze livestock/​cattle/​sheep
    • kill/​slaughter livestock
    • preserve/​smoke/​cure/​salt meat
    Modern farming
    • run a fish farm/​an organic dairy farm
    • engage in/​be involved in intensive (pig/​fish) farming
    • use/​apply (chemical/​organic) fertilizer/​insecticides/​pesticides
    • begin/​do/​conduct field trials of GM (= genetically modified) crops
    • grow/​develop GM crops/​seeds/​plants/​foods
    • fund/​invest in genetic engineering/​research
    • improve/​increase crop yields
    • face/​suffer from/​alleviate food shortages
    • label food that contains GMOs (= genetically modified organisms)
    • eliminate/​reduce farm subsidies
    • oppose/​be against factory farming/​GM food
    • promote/​encourage/​support organic/​sustainable farming
    Extra Examples
    • She grew up in the countryside, playing in the woods and fields.
    • There was a big field behind our house.
    • tractors working out in the field
    • The straw can be chopped and spread on the field.
    • The fields around the village are full of corn.
    • They went walking in the fields outside the city.
    • When I was a child this was all fields.
    • Despite the war, they continued to work the fields.
    • He planted fields full of sunflowers.
    • looking out on the green fields of Shropshire
    • the green fields of my homeland
    • The farmer had just ploughed the field, ready for planting the next crop.
    • This weed can cause problems in corn, soybean, and wheat fields.
    • Emerald green rice fields stretched as far as the eye could see.
    • We saw endless fields of sunflowers.
    Topics Farminga2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • cultivated
    • ploughed/​plowed
    • grass
    verb + field
    • work in
    • cultivate
    • work
    preposition
    • across a/​the field
    • through a/​the field
    • (out) in a/​the field
    See full entry
  2. [countable] (usually in compounds) an area of land used for the purpose mentioned
    • a landing field
    see also airfield, minefield
  3. [countable] (usually in compounds) a large area of land covered with the thing mentioned; an area from which the thing mentioned is obtained
    • The territory is covered with snow, bare rock and ice fields.
    • Prisoners were sent to work in the gas fields in the north.
    • the discovery of the oil and gas fields in the North Sea
    see also coalfield, goldfield, ice field, oilfield, snowfield
  4. in sport

  5. (British English also pitch)
    [countable] an area of land used for playing a sport on
    • a football/soccer/sports field
    • a baseball/cricket/rugby field
    • on/off the field Every player on the field did their best today.
    • Players need discipline both on and off the field (= when they are playing and also in their free time).
    • There was huge excitement as the teams came onto the field.
    • Today they take the field (= go on to the field to play a game) against county champions Essex.
    see also centre field, left field, on-field, playing field, track and field
    Extra Examples
    • The area has golf courses, community gardens, and sports fields.
    • They were walking home from the sports field.
    • From the train we saw people playing at a baseball field.
    • There are soccer fields behind the school.
    • She made a name for herself on the hockey field.
    • He spends his weekends on muddy rugby fields.
    • As soon as she came on the field she made a difference.
    • She limped off the field.
    • He was booed off the field.
    • Players are only reselected if they retain their form on the field (= when they are playing a match).
    • For Liverpool fans, it was a night to remember both on and off the field (= the match was good and so were the celebrations afterwards).
    • She passed the ball across the field.
    • He likes to play in the middle of the field.
    Topics Sports: ball and racket sportsa2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • playing
    • sports
    • football
    verb + field
    • take
    preposition
    • on a/​the field
    • off the field
    See full entry
  6. [singular + singular or plural verb] (in cricket and baseball) the team that is trying to catch the ball rather than hit it
    • He took the ball early and hit it through a gap in the field.
    Topics Sports: ball and racket sportsc2
  7. [singular + singular or plural verb] all the people or animals competing in a particular sports event
    • The strong field includes three world record holders.
    Extra Examples
    • She managed to head the field across the finishing line of the London Marathon.
    • His superb technique puts him head and shoulders ahead of the field.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • strong
    • crowded
    • male-dominated
    verb + the field
    • dominate
    • head
    • lead
    the field + verb
    • include somebody
    preposition
    • ahead of the field
    See full entry
  8. in war

  9. usually the field
    [countable, usually singular] an area of land where a battle is fought
    • in the field a medal for bravery in the field
    • on the field to die on the field of battle
    • a field ambulance/kitchen
    see also battlefield
  10. subject/activity

  11. [countable] a particular subject or activity that somebody works in or is interested in synonym area (4)
    • Child development is such an interesting field.
    • Genetic science has developed dramatically since I entered the field 40 years ago.
    • in a field All of them are experts in their chosen field.
    • He was awarded a Nobel Prize for his work in this field.
    • in the field of something She works in the field of adult education.
    • I enjoy meeting people in other fields of business.
    • field of something This discovery has opened up a whole new field of study.
    • ‘How big was the bomb, if it did all that damage?’ ‘I don’t know. Not my field’ (= that is not one of the subjects I know about).
    Extra Examples
    • people who work in this field
    • I work in the field of computer science.
    • She has made a huge impact in the field of literary history.
    • Computer modelling is used extensively in the field of climate science.
    • She was a pioneer in the field of digital art.
    • Researchers in the field believe this could be a major breakthrough.
    • You may use libraries or labs depending on your field of research.
    • These academics are world leaders in their respective fields.
    • I can't answer that—I'm afraid it's outside my field.
    • Etymology is not really my field, but I'll try to answer your questions.
    • There has been no solid research in this field.
    • He was equally famous in the fields of politics and of science.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • chosen
    • specialist
    • specialized
    verb + field
    • work in
    • open up
    preposition
    • in a/​the field
    • outside a/​somebody’s field
    • field of
    phrases
    • an expert in the field
    • a leader in the field
    • a field of research
    See full entry
  12. practical work

  13. [countable] (especially in compounds) the fact of people doing practical work or study, rather than working in a library or laboratory
    • a field study/experiment
    • field recordings/observations
    • Her findings were based on extensive field and laboratory work.
    • We then tested the questionnaire in field conditions.
    • in the field tests carried out in the field
    see also field trip, fieldwork
    Extra Examples
    • In 2016, the first field trials of the vaccine were carried out.
    • In a series of field experiments, we investigated the effect on the frog population.
    • Until further field research has been conducted on these products, caution is recommended with their use.
    • field recordings of natural sounds
    • This research finding tends to support the field observation that organizations change only when they have to.
    • Companies might use focus groups or field surveys for market research.
    • The researchers went on to conduct a three-year field and laboratory study.
    • The research-and-development unit comes up with new products and tests them in the field.
    • The device can directly measure soil erodibility in the field or laboratory.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverb + field
    • work in
    field + noun
    • experiment
    • investigation
    • research
    preposition
    • in the field
    See full entry
  14. in business

  15. [singular + singular or plural verb] all the people or products competing in a particular area of business
    • They lead the field in home entertainment systems.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • strong
    • crowded
    • male-dominated
    verb + the field
    • dominate
    • head
    • lead
    the field + verb
    • include somebody
    preposition
    • ahead of the field
    See full entry
  16. physics

  17. [countable] (usually in compounds) an area within which the force mentioned has an effect
    • the earth’s gravitational field
    • an electromagnetic field
    • Weak electric fields are emitted by all living organisms.
    see also force field, magnetic fieldTopics Physics and chemistryb2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • energy
    • force
    • electric
    field + noun
    • strength
    See full entry
  18. computing

  19. [countable] part of a record that is a separate item of data
    • You will need to create separate fields for first name, surname and address.
    • the use of keys to move between fields
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • data
    • display
    • input
    verb + field
    • create
    • move between
    See full entry
  20. Word OriginOld English feld (also denoting a large tract of open country; compare with veld), of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch veld and German Feld.
Idioms
leave the field clear for somebody
  1. to enable somebody to be successful in a particular area of activity because other people or groups have given up competing with them
    • The complete disarray of the opposition parties leaves the field clear for the government to implement urgent reforms.
    Topics Successc2
level the playing field
  1. to create a situation where everyone has the same opportunities
play the field
  1. (informal) to have sexual relationships with a lot of different people
See field in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee field in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
aspiration
noun
 
 
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