silo

[sahy-loh]

noun

plural

silos 

1. a structure, typically cylindrical, in which fodder or forage is kept.

   The dairy farm's two biggest buildings were the barn and the silo full of feed for the cows.

2. a pit or underground space for storing grain, green feeds, etc.

3. Military.,  an underground installation constructed of concrete and steel, designed to house a ballistic missile and the equipment for firing it.

4. a group, unit, enterprise, etc., that is isolated from others or functions independently, typically viewed as not deriving the benefits of interrelationships or collaboration.

   Fundraising department silos happen when different teams don't share their ideas and plans.

5. information silo.  data silo. Computers.,  an unintegrated data repository that cannot share its stored data with other systems, subsystems, or applications.

   When an organization deploys a stand-alone solution to improve operations, it risks creating a data silo that may present difficulties when trying to scale throughout the enterprise.

verb (used with object)

siloed, siloing 

1. to put into or preserve in a silo, as fodder, grain, or missiles.

2. to separate or isolate (a group, unit, enterprise, etc.) from others.

   We Americans are now more sheltered and siloed in our sources of news than ever before.

silo

/ ˈsaɪləʊ /

noun

1. a pit, trench, horizontal container, or tower, often cylindrical in shape, in which silage is made and stored

2. a strengthened underground position in which missile systems are sited for protection against attack

Word History and Origins

Origin of silo¹

First recorded in 1825–35; from Spanish: “place for storing grain, hay, etc.,” originally, “subterranean”; further origin uncertain

Word History and Origins

Origin of silo¹

C19: from Spanish, perhaps from Celtic

Example Sentences

They carved grain silos directly into hard volcanic rock in locations that were extremely difficult to reach.

Read more on Science Daily

Chief Executive Sundar Pichai and other executives have since worked to overhaul the company’s AI development strategy by breaking down internal silos, streamlining leadership and consolidating work on its models, employees say.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

"Genetic researchers, companies and geneticists often operate in silos," McNally said.

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He says the series is an extreme version of the present and the mental silos that take shape.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Major players like Facebook and Google promoted platitudes about unfettered access to information and instant connectivity to friends and neighbors while privately crafting silos to push users toward avenues they could monetize.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• cellar 
• granary 
• storehouse