fieldwork — English Dictionary

Noun

1. Work done out in the fields as opposed to that done elsewhere on the farm (e.g., barn, house, outbuildings, office).

   Usage

   • Uncountable

   Synonyms

   outwork

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   The days now were occupied in field work and more field work; he cleared new bits of ground, getting out roots and stones; plowing, manuring, harrowing, working with pick and spade, breaking lumps of soil and crumbling them with hand and heel; a tiller of the ground always, laying out fields like velvet carpets. He waited a couple of days longer―there was a look of rain about―and then he sowed his grain.

   Besides the bookkeeping and marketing, there's a ton of fieldwork to get done this week.

2. Work done out in the real world rather than in controlled conditions.

   Usage

   • Uncountable

   Examples

   That well Bob set up last weekend was some good fieldwork.

3. The collection of raw data in the field.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable
   • in scientific research

   Examples

   I thought the fieldwork in the course I was taking was going to be hard, but it was just interviewing people.

4. A temporary fortification built by troops in the field; a defensive earthwork in the field.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Rare

   Examples

   Billy's out building some fieldwork so that our enemies don't walk right over us.

Noun

1. a temporary fortification built by troops in the field

   Broader terms

   fortificationmunition

2. an investigation carried out in the field rather than in a laboratory or headquarters

   Synonyms

   field work

   Broader terms

   research