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WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2024moth•ball /ˈmɔθˌbɔl, ˈmɑθ-/USA pronunciation n. [countable]- a small, strong-smelling ball of naphthalene for placing in storage areas to repel moths.
- Idioms in mothballs, in a state of storage;
no longer used:The fleet was in mothballs.
v. [~ + object] - to put into storage;
make (something) no longer active:agreed to mothball their most dangerous missiles.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2024moth•ball (môth′bôl′, moth′-),USA pronunciation n. - a small ball of naphthalene or sometimes of camphor for placing in closets or other storage areas to repel moths from clothing, blankets, etc.
- in mothballs:
- Idiomsin disuse or in storage, esp. with reference to standby equipment.
- Idioms(of ideas) dismissed as unworthy of further deliberation.
v.t. - to put into storage or reserve;
inactivate.
adj. - inactive;
unused;
stored away:a mothball fleet.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers:: mothball /ˈmɒθˌbɔːl/ n
Also called: camphor ball a small ball of camphor or naphthalene used to repel clothes moths in stored clothing, blankets, etc- put in mothballs ⇒ to postpone work on (a project, activity, etc)
vb (transitive)- to prepare (a ship, aircraft, etc) for a long period of storage by sealing all openings with plastic to prevent corrosion
- to take (a factory, plant, etc) out of operation but maintain it so that it can be used in the future
- to postpone work on (a project, activity, etc)
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