In the
grain trade, a
grain elevator is a tower containing a
bucket elevator or a
pneumatic conveyor, which scoops up
grain from a lower level and deposits it in a
silo or other storage facility. In most cases, the term "grain elevator" also covers the entire elevator complex (an example of
pars pro toto), including receiving and testing offices,
weighbridges, storage facilities etc. It may also mean organizations that operate or control several individual elevators, in different locations. In Australia the term
grain elevator refers to the lifting mechanism only (see "usage" below).