service arean.
/ˈsəːvɪs ˌɛːrɪə/, U.S. /ˈsərvəs ˌɛriə/ 1.
a. A geographical area within which a particular service or utility is provided.
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1900 Electr. Rev. (U.S.) 18 July 58/2 Where the service area of a station is of such limited extent that its entire load can be economically reached by the 250-volt, three-wire system, very satisfactory results are attained.
1913 Financial Times 22 May 11/5 The charges [for the telephone service] vary from £3 to £6..with an unlimited service within the service area, which compares more than favourably with the charges in Great Britain.
2005 K. Komives et al. Water, Electr., & Poor vi. 113 All subsidies on consumption from private water taps and electricity connections are affected by the base coverage and metering conditions in the utility service area.
b. The area within which transmissions from a particular broadcasting station can be received clearly.
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society > communication > broadcasting > radio broadcasting > [noun] > radio service
radio network1923
service area1923
programme1929
radio1935
wireless1939
community radio1947
1923 Lebanon (Pa.) Semi-weekly News 9 Nov. 3/3 Hoover suggested that..‘radio zones’ be regulated irrespective of state lines covering the service area of stations.
1970 J. Earl How to choose Tuners & Amplifiers iii. 74 If you have in mind trying for more distant stations..outside the normal service area, then you will certainly need a tuner of top sensitivity.
2014 Gazette (Montreal) (Nexis) 23 May b7 Broadcasting regulations require new transmitters to protect existing ones from interference within their approved service areas.
2. A space adjoining a house or other residential building for the accommodation of dustbins, cleaning equipment, etc.
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1923 Postville (Iowa) Herald 3 May Allow for a vegetable garden... The service area for domestic uses must also be set aside.
1956 Good Housek. Home Encycl. (ed. 4) 327/2 The service area behind or at the side of the house.
2008 Times (Nexis) 20 Oct. (Times2 section) 2/2 The ground floors of each block were given over to garages and service areas.
3. Chiefly British. An area adjacent to a road where services (such as fuel, refreshments, etc.) are available to motorists. Cf. service n.1 38.
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society > travel > means of travel > route or way > way, path, or track > road > parts of road > [noun] > (provision of) service area
service area1950
services1967
1950 Moulton (Texas) Eagle 6 Oct. Passenger cars will have their own service area so that motorists don't have to wait while trucks are being refueled.
1957 Daily Mail 25 June 5/2 One [halt] is also shown in model form. This ‘service area’—the Ministry's name—is on both sides of the motor road.
2005 Bath Chron. (Nexis) 3 Mar. 23 The new stores have created 40 jobs at the service area on the M4 near Chippenham.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2021; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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n.1900