17 PHRASE Work or study that is done in the field is done in a real, natural environment rather than in a theoretical way or in controlled conditions. □ The zoo is doing major conservation work, both in captivity and in the field.
18 PHRASE If you say that someone leads the field in a particular activity, you mean that they are better, more active, or more successful than everyone else who is involved in it. □ When it comes to picking up awards they lead the field by miles.
19 PHRASE If someone plays the field , they have a number of different romantic or sexual relationships. [INFORMAL ] □ He gave up playing the field and married a year ago. SYNONYMS field NOUN 1
land: Good agricultural land is in short supply.
meadow: Its forests and meadows also make it great for country walks.
paddock: The family kept horses in the paddock in front of the house.
pasture: The cows are out now, grazing in the pasture.
field|er /fiː ldə r / (fielders ) N‑COUNT A fielder is a player in cricket, baseball, or rounders who is fielding or one who has a particular skill at fielding. □ The fielders crouch around the batsman's wicket.
fie ld event (field events ) N‑COUNT A field event is an athletics contest such as the high jump or throwing the discus or javelin, rather than a race.
fie ld-glasses also field glasses N‑PLURAL [oft a pair of N ] Field-glasses are the same as binoculars . [FORMAL ]
fie ld hand (field hands ) N‑COUNT A field hand is someone who is employed to work on a farm. [mainly AM ]
fie ld ho ck|ey N‑UNCOUNT [oft N n] Field hockey is an outdoor game played on a grass field between two teams of 11 players who use long curved sticks to hit a small ball and try to score goals. [AM ] in BRIT, use hockey
fie ld ma r|shal (field marshals ) also field-marshal N‑COUNT ; N‑TITLE A field marshal is an officer in the army who has the highest rank.
fie ld mouse (field mice ) also fieldmouse N‑COUNT A field mouse is a mouse with a long tail that lives in fields and woods.
fie ld sport (field sports ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] Hunting, shooting birds, and fishing with a rod are referred to as field sports when they are done mainly for pleasure.
fie ld-test (field-tests , field-testing , field-tested ) also field test VERB If you field-test a new piece of equipment, you test it in a real, natural environment. □ [V n] We've field-tested them ourselves and are happy that they work.
field|work /fiː ldwɜː r k/ also field work N‑UNCOUNT Fieldwork is the gathering of information about something in a real, natural environment, rather than in a place of study such as a laboratory or classroom. □ …anthropological fieldwork.
fiend /fiː nd/ (fiends )
1 N‑COUNT If you describe someone as a fiend , you mean that they are extremely wicked or cruel. [WRITTEN ] □ A tearful husband repeated calls for help in catching the fiend who battered his wife.
2 N‑COUNT [n N ] Fiend can be used after a noun to refer to a person who is very interested in the thing mentioned, and enjoys having a lot of it or doing it often. □ …if you're a heavy coffee drinker or strong-tea fiend.
fiend|ish /fiː nd I ʃ/
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A fiendish plan, action, or device is very clever or imaginative. [INFORMAL ] □ …a fiendish plot. ● fiend|ish|ly ADV [usu ADV adj] □ This figure is reached by a fiendishly clever equation.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] A fiendish problem or task is very difficult and challenging. [INFORMAL ] □ …the fiendish difficulty of the questions. ● fiend|ish|ly ADV [ADV adj] □ America's trade laws are fiendishly complex.
3 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A fiendish person enjoys being cruel. □ This was a fiendish act of wickedness.
fierce ◆◇◇ /f I ə r s/ (fiercer , fiercest )
1 ADJ A fierce animal or person is very aggressive or angry. □ They look like the teeth of some fierce animal. ● fierce|ly ADV □ 'I don't know,' she said fiercely.
2 ADJ Fierce feelings or actions are very intense or enthusiastic, or involve great activity. □ Standards are high and competition is fierce. □ The town was captured after a fierce battle with rebels at the weekend. □ He inspires fierce loyalty in his friends. ● fierce|ly ADV [ADV adj, ADV with v] □ He has always been ambitious and fiercely competitive.
3 ADJ Fierce conditions are very intense, great, or strong. □ The climbers were trapped by a fierce storm which went on for days.
fiery /fa I əri/ (fieriest )
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe something as fiery , you mean that it is burning strongly or contains fire. [LITERARY ] □ A helicopter crashed in a fiery explosion in Vallejo.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] You can use fiery for emphasis when you are referring to bright colours such as red or orange. [LITERARY , EMPHASIS ] □ The flowers provided a fiery bright red display.
3 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe food or drink as fiery , you mean that it has a very strong hot or spicy taste. [WRITTEN ] □ …a fiery combination of chicken, chillies and rice.
4 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe someone as fiery , you mean that they express very strong emotions, especially anger, in their behaviour or speech. [WRITTEN ]
fi|es|ta /fie stə/ (fiestas ) N‑COUNT A fiesta is a time of public entertainment and parties, usually on a special religious holiday, especially in Spain or Latin America.