Definition of field
1 a (1)
:an open land area free of woods and buildings
(2)
:an area of land marked by the presence of particular objects or features
- dune fields
b (1)
:an area of cleared enclosed land used for cultivation or pasture
- a field of wheat
(2)
:land containing a natural resource
- oil fields
(3)
:airfield
c
:the place where a battle is fought;
also
:battle
d
:a large unbroken expanse (as of ice)
2 a
:an area or division of an activity, subject, or profession
- the field of microbiology
b
:the sphere of practical operation outside a base (such as a laboratory, office, or factory)
- geologists working in the field
c
:an area for military exercises or maneuvers
d (1)
:an area constructed, equipped, or marked for sports
- a football field
(2)
:the portion of an indoor or outdoor sports area enclosed by the running track and on which field events are conducted
(3)
:any of the three sections of a baseball outfield
- hits to all fields
3
:a space on which something is drawn or projected: such as
a
:the space on the surface of a coin, medal, or seal that does not contain the design
b
:the ground of each division in a flag
c
:the whole surface of an escutcheon (see escutcheon 1)
4
:the individuals that make up all or part of the participants in a contest
- The election attracted a large field of candidates.
5
:the area visible through the lens of an optical instrument
6 a
:a region or space in which a given effect (such as magnetism) exists
- a magnetic field
- a gravitational field
b
:a region of embryonic tissue capable of a particular type of differentiation (see differentiation 3)
- a morphogenetic field
7
:a set of mathematical elements that is subject to two binary operations the second of which is distributive (see distributive 3) relative to the first and that constitutes a commutative (see commutative 2) group under the first operation and also under the second if the zero or unit element under the first is omitted
8
:a complex of forces that serve as causative agents in human behavior
9
:a series of drain tiles and an absorption area for septic-tank outflow
10
:a particular area (as of a record in a database) in which the same type of information is regularly recorded
—
from the field
:in field goals as opposed to free throws
- made 40 percent of his shots from the field
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