mothball

American  

[mawth-bawl, moth-] / ˈmɔθˌbɔl, ˈmɒθ- /

noun

1. a small ball of naphthalene or sometimes of camphor for placing in closets or other storage areas to repel moths from clothing, blankets, etc.

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verb (used with object)

mothballs, present (3rd person singular) mothballed, past participle, past mothballing present participle

1. to put into storage or reserve; inactivate.

adjective

1. inactive; unused; stored away.

   a mothball fleet.

idioms

1. in mothballs,

   1. in disuse or in storage, especially with reference to standby equipment.

   2. (of ideas) dismissed as unworthy of further deliberation.

mothball British  

/ ˈmɒθˌbɔːl /

noun

1. Also called: camphor ball.  a small ball of camphor or naphthalene used to repel clothes moths in stored clothing, blankets, etc

2. to postpone work on (a project, activity, etc)

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verb

1. to prepare (a ship, aircraft, etc) for a long period of storage by sealing all openings with plastic to prevent corrosion

2. to take (a factory, plant, etc) out of operation but maintain it so that it can be used in the future

3. to postpone work on (a project, activity, etc)

Other Word Forms

Conjugated Forms

Present

• has mothballed
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have mothballed
  perfect
• am mothballing
  progressive 1st person singular
• is mothballing
  progressive 3rd person singular
• have been mothballing
  perfect progressive
• mothballing
  participle
• has been mothballing
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• mothballs
  singular 3rd person
• are mothballing
  progressive

Past

• had mothballed
  perfect
• was mothballing
  progressive singular
• were mothballing
  progressive plural
• had been mothballing
  perfect progressive
• mothballed
  simple
• mothballed
  participle

Future

• will mothball
  simple
• will have mothballed
  perfect
• will be mothballing
  progressive
• will have been mothballing
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of mothball

First recorded in 1905–10; moth + ball ¹

Related Words

• conserve
• defend
• freeze
• keep
• perpetuate
• protect
• retain
• safeguard
• save
• secure
• store
• sustain
• uphold