Mothball

Quick meaning: Mothball is a noun meaning To store (clothing, etc.) with mothballs (noun sense 1).

Meaning

To store (clothing, etc.) with mothballs (noun sense 1).

More Meanings

1. To stop using (something), and often to put it in storage; specifically, while keeping it in good condition so it can be used in the future.
2. To stop work on (a plan, project, etc.) for the time being; to postpone, to shelve.
3. (chiefly in the plural) A small ball of chemical pesticide (originally camphor and now typically naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene) and deodorant placed in or around clothing and other articles to deter moth larvae which may damage them.

Example Sentences

They mothballed the old version after the new one came out.

There were two carloads of equipments. Upon their return to the armory the blankets were shook and repacked with mothballs; […]

Me and Solly, as I now called him, prepared to shake off our moth-balls and wing our way against the arc-lights of the joyous and tuneful East.

Years later, he [Walter Simonson] characterized the company's behavior as "abrupt, rude, and disrespectful," and railed against the mothballing of veteran creators.

Word Forms

• mothballs
• moth-ball
• moth ball
• mothballing
• mothballed

Synonyms for mothball

Depending on context, synonyms include defer, set aside.

Antonyms for mothball

Common opposites include demothball, unmothball.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include moth ball, mothballer, mothproofer, muskball, miniball, mool.

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