silo
UK: ˈsaɪləʊ | US: ˈsaɪloʊ
n. 1. A tall tower or pit on a farm used to store grain or fodder.
n. 2. An isolated system, department, or group that operates separately from others (metaphorical usage).
vt. To store or isolate in a silo.
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The word "silo" originates from the Greek siros (meaning "pit for storing grain"), which passed into Latin as sirus and later into Spanish as silo. The term entered English in the 19th century, initially referring to agricultural storage structures. Its metaphorical sense of "isolation" emerged in the mid-20th century, reflecting compartmentalization in organizations or systems. The word remains monomorphemic in English, retaining its original form without prefix/root/suffix divisions.
The farm built a new silo to store harvested corn.
The company's departments worked in silos, hindering collaboration.
Farmers use silos to protect grain from moisture and pests.
The IT team was siloed from the marketing department, causing communication gaps.
Modern businesses aim to break down silos to improve efficiency.