What is the difference between building a basement and a cellar?

A basement is built with concrete or some form of blocks surrounding it, and it will have a poured concrete floor or slab beneath it.  A cellar may or may not be constructed with concrete or block walls. I have seen some walls made out of wood, but the primary difference is, cellars don’t have a concrete floor.  It is usually simply a dirt floor. A new difference is slowly gaining popularity, and that is what is called a Permanent Wood Foundation. That means the foundation will be made out of gravel and the walls are constructed out of moisture-resistant wood. In the north as far as Canada, this method is becoming more popular due to its cheap price tag.