mothball
English · Thesaurus
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mothball
- /ˈmɒθbɔːl/ UK
- /ˈmɔθˌbɔl/ US
- /ˈmɑθˌbɑl/ US, cot caught merger
Where it comes from
The noun is derived from moth + ball. The verb is derived from the noun.
noun mothballs · moth-ball · moth ball
- A small ball of chemical pesticide (originally camphor and now typically naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene) and deodorant placed in or around clothing and other articles to deter moth larvae which may damage them. There were two carloads of equipments. Upon their return to the armory the blankets were shook and repacked with mothballs; […]
verb mothballs · mothballing · mothballed
- To store (clothing, etc.) with mothballs (noun sense 1).
-
To stop using (something), and often to put it in storage; specifically, while keeping it in good condition so it can be used in the future.
They mothballed the old version after the new one came out.
Opposite: demothball, unmothball
- To stop work on (a plan, project, etc.) for the time being; to postpone, to shelve. The fact that the START Treaty has just been signed is reason enough not to build one rail garrison train before mothballing the project.
Translations
Every language
noun small ball of chemical pesticide to deter moth larvae
| Español | bola de alcanfor, bola de naftalina |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 좀약 jomyak |
| 中文 | 臭球兒 /臭球儿 chòuqiúr, 衛生球 /卫生球 wèishēngqiú, 樟腦丸 /樟脑丸 zhāngnǎowán |
| Português | naftalina |
| Français | boule de naphtaline |
| Deutsch | Mottenkugel |
| Italiano | naftalina, pallina tarmicida |
| Ελληνικά | ναφθαλίνη nafthalíni |
| Română | naftalină |
| Русский | нафтали́новый ша́рик naftalínovyj šárik |
| Tiếng Việt | băng phiến, long não |
verb to store (clothing, etc.) with mothballs
| Deutsch | einmotten |
|---|
verb to stop using (something), and often to put it in storage; specifically, while keeping it in good condition so it can be used in the future
| 日本語 | 〜を使わずにとっておく |
|---|---|
| Português | engavetar |
| Deutsch | einmotten |
| Русский | законсервировать zakonservirovatʹ |
Talk about this word "mothball." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/mothball. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. mothball. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/mothball "mothball." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/mothball.Cite this
@misc{mothball_2026,
title = {mothball},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/mothball},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
