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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.

verb (used with object)

  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)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of mothball

First recorded in 1905–10; moth + ball 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Whatever the case, “Adult/Child’s” mothballing led to another withdrawal by Wilson, who had far less to do with the band’s next few records and who eventually turned to a solo career.

From Los Angeles Times

Meanwhile, the metal’s prices could be supported by supply concerns after miner South32 disclosed plans to mothball its smelter in Mozambique, according to the analysts.

From The Wall Street Journal

The paper’s books section has been mothballed and its daily news podcast, “Post Reports,” will be suspended.

From Salon

“I thought maybe we could take them out of mothballs.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Critics say this mothballing will amount to a death warrant, and have asked San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors to give the fountain another chance.

From The Wall Street Journal

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.