grain elevator

noun

A large structure for the storage of grain. It is more specialized than a regular granary in that it uses an elevating mechanism to hold the grain in one of many different bins, and that it is designed to fill large trucks and train cars for shipping grain in bulk.

Meanings

noungrain elevator (plural grain elevators)

plural grain elevators

  1. CanadaUSagricultureA large structure for the storage of grain. It is more specialized than a regular granary in that it uses an elevating mechanism to hold the grain in one of many different bins, and that it is designed to fill large trucks and train cars for shipping grain in bulk.

    By analyzing the costs of operating a country grain elevator these advantages, if any exist, should appear.

    1922, Joseph Bernard Kenkel, The Cooperative Elevator Movement: A Study in Grain Marketing at Country Points in the North Central States, Catholic University of America, pg. 97
    2 more examples

    Interest in the safety and health of workers in grain elevators has increased substantially since the series of recent grain elevator explosions and fires.

    1980, United States Congress, House of Representatives, Committee on Education and Labor. Subcommittee on Health and Safety, A staff report on the oversight of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration with respect to grain elevator fires and explosions, U.S. Govt. Print. Off. pg 3

    As the grain elevator and other industrial structures became more common on the plains, they redefind the traditional pastoral image of the American landscape.

    1996, Lisa Mahar-Keplinger, Grain Elevators, Princeton Architectural Press, pg. 9

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see

Translations

Irish ardaitheoir gráin
  • ardaitheoir gráina large structure for the storage of grain
Polish elewator
  • elewatora large structure for the storage of grain
Russian элева́тор
  • элева́тор (elevátor)a large structure for the storage of grain
Cite this entry
APA

grain elevator. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/grain%20elevator

MLA

“grain elevator.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/grain%20elevator. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “grain elevator,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/grain%20elevator.

Source: grain elevator on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.