field

1 field /ˈfiːld/ noun
plural fields
1 field
/ˈfiːld/
noun
plural fields
Britannica Dictionary definition of FIELD
[count]
1 
a  : an open area of land without trees or buildings
— see also ice field
b  : an area of land that has a special use
— see color picture on this page; see also oil field
2 
: an area of work, study, etc.
3 
a  : an area of land that is used for sports
◊ 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.
4 
: the area where work is done away from a laboratory, office, etc. — often used before another noun
— see also field-test, fieldwork
5 
: the group of people, horses, teams, etc., that are in a race or other competition
— often used figuratively
6 
: a place where battles and other military activities happen — see also battlefield, landing field, minefield
7 
: a region or space in which an effect or force (such as gravity, electricity, or magnetism) exists
8 
: an area in which a particular type of information is placed

play the field

— see 1play
2 field /ˈfiːld/ verb
fields; fielded; fielding
2 field
/ˈfiːld/
verb
fields; fielded; fielding
Britannica Dictionary definition of FIELD
[+ object]
1 
baseball or cricket : to catch or stop and throw a ball
also : to play (a position) on a baseball team
2 
a  : to deal with or respond to (something, such as a telephone call or a request)
b  : to give an answer to (a question)
3 
: to put (a team, army, etc.) into the field to compete or fight