Meaning of the word mothball in English
What does mothball mean in English? Explore the meaning, pronunciation, and specific usage of this word with Lingoland.
mothball
US /ˈmɑːθ.bɑːl/
UK /ˈmɒθ.bɔːl/
Noun
a small ball of chemical substance, typically naphthalene, used to repel moths from clothing and other stored items
Example:
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She put mothballs in the closet to protect her wool sweaters.
•
The old trunk smelled strongly of mothballs.
Verb
to put something into storage or disuse, often for an indefinite period, to preserve it or to save it for future use
Example:
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The company decided to mothball the old factory until the economy improved.
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They had to mothball the project due to lack of funding.