Just because it's tall & round...

[jjeling]

So what are these things called? Any ideas? It is used for shipping, and sits along the Maumee River. I would just call them the silos along the river. For those whom it does not matter what these are called, we usually just call them silos and dont try to distinguish the difference since we usually know what the other is talking about. It would make sense to know the difference if this was the type of lifestyle you are living, but thats def not me. Either way, I would never be able to tell the difference by looking at them, so they will always be called silos.

[russ]

It really depends what the structure is designed for, the pic's from Ohio - I really have no idea. Could be anything including a malting facility hmmm beer hmmm whiskey Sorry what we talking about again?

or it could be something to do with an entirely different industry.

[Greg_Nuspel]

Read up Silo - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Bambi]

so are we back to 'if it's tall and round it is a silo'?

[russ]

Read up Silo - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

As a rural inhabitant I can assure you, we don't call granaries silos. Especially on the prairies.

[russ]

so are we back to 'if it's tall and round it is a silo'?

Actually no, quoting directly from Greg's link...

A bin is typically much shorter than a silo, and is typically used for holding dry matter such as concrete or grain. Bins may be round or square, but round bins tend to empty more easily due to a lack of corners for the stored material to become wedged and encrusted.

Farmers tend to interchange bin & granary with each other but not the term silo, this is because a silo on a farm is used to ferment grain.

[Bambi]

Actually no, quoting directly from Greg's link...

A bin is typically much shorter than a silo, and is typically used for holding dry matter such as concrete or grain. Bins may be round or square, but round bins tend to empty more easily due to a lack of corners for the stored material to become wedged and encrusted.

Farmers tend to interchange bin & granary with each other but not the term silo, this is because a silo on a farm is used to ferment grain.

okay got it now!

[russ]

Well heres a whole set of definitions...

silo: Definition from Answers.com

[jjeling]

So here is my question -

If I see a structure and have no clue what it is, even by definitition, how am I supposed to know what to call it?

I think this is why most of us just call them silos. We may know the difference, but if you cant tell by looking at them from the outside, you may as well just call it a silo. Call me ignorant or lazy for not wanting to learn, but if there is no way to distinguish the difference from the outside, then I cannot see any reason for me to recognize any difference.

[Greg_Nuspel]

I think "tall round thingy of unknown contents that maybe fermenting or not" will be what I use since I'm not about to go and ask.