field mouse

Multiple Entries:
  field mouse    field  

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
field mouse

▶noun another term for wood mouse.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
field/fiːld/

▶noun

• 1 an area of open land, especially one planted with crops or pasture.

  ■ a piece of land used for a sport or game.

  ■ a large area of land or water completely covered in snow or ice.

  ■ an area rich in a natural product, typically oil or gas.

• 2 a branch of study or sphere of activity.

  ■ Computing a part of a record, representing an item of data.

• 3 a space or range within which objects are visible from a viewpoint or through a piece of apparatus: the motorist's field of vision.

• 4 (the field) all the participants in a contest or sport.

  ■ Cricket fielders collectively.

  ■ a fielder of specified ability.

• 5 Physics the region in which a force such as gravity or magnetism is effective, regardless of the presence or absence of a material medium.

• 6 Mathematics a system subject to two binary operations analogous to those for the multiplication and addition of real numbers, and having similar commutative and distributive laws.

• 7 Heraldry the surface of an escutcheon or of one of its divisions.

▶verb

• 1 chiefly Cricket & Baseball attempt to catch or stop the ball and return it after it has been hit.

  ■ catch or stop (the ball) and return it.

• 2 select for a game or to stand in an election.

• 3 deal with (a difficult question, telephone call, etc.).

▶adjective carried out or working in the natural environment, rather than in a laboratory or office.

■ (of military equipment) light and mobile for use on campaign.

■ used in names of animals or plants found in the open country, e.g. field mouse.

– phrases
hold the field remain the most important.
in the field

• 1 engaged in combat or manoeuvres.

• 2 engaged in fieldwork.

play the field informal indulge in a series of casual sexual relationships.
take the field

• 1 (of a team) go on to a field to begin a game.

• 2 start a military campaign.

– origin OE feld, of W. Gmc origin.