Lexic.us

Definition of Mothball

1. Noun. A small sphere of camphor or naphthalene used to keep moths away from stored clothing.

2. Verb. Put into long-term storage. "They mothball the cape "

Definition of Mothball

1. Noun. a small ball of chemical pesticide and deodorant placed in or around clothing and other articles susceptible to damage from mold or moth larvae in order to protect them from this damage; mothballs have either naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene as their active ingredient. ¹

2. Verb. (transitive) to store or shelve (something that is no longer used) ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Mothball

1. to put into storage [v -ED, -ING, -S]

Lexicographical Neighbors of Mothball

motets motett motetts motey moth moth-eaten moth-eaten alopecia moth-er moth-resistant moth bean

moth miller moth mullein moth orchid moth patch moth plant mothball (current term) mothballed mothballing mothbally mothed

mothen mother's boy mother's daughter mother's line mother's milk mother's son mother-child relations

Literary usage of Mothball

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. OECD Economic Surveys by OECD Staff (2004)
"It may be preferable to mothball (but not necessarily decommission) such plants as an insurance policy against possible future capacity constraints or the ..."

2. Literature Circles: Voice and Choice in Book Clubs and Reading Groups by Harvey Daniels (2002)
"So, yes, when other demands or opportunities arise, you can "mothball" literature circles for a week or a month, bringing them back later with confidence ..."

3. America, a Minority Viewpoint by Walter Edward Williams (1982)
"That being the case, we could buy ships from other countries now, at half price, mothball them, and have a merchant marine fleet twice as large in the event ..."

4. Apollo's Warriors: United States Air Force Special Operations During the by Michael E. Haas (1998)
"... been pulled from USAF's mothball fleet, all other aircraft came directly from the manufacturer's factories. The 581st would be the only ARCW to actually ..."

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