American Dictionary

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Definition mothball in American English

mothball noun

[countable]noun
/ˈmɔθˌbɔl/
1

a small white ball made from a chemical with a strong smell that you put with clothes in order to prevent them being damaged by moths

Synonyms and related words
2

unused but kept in good condition for future use

Example

The company closed the factory and put it in mothballs for several years.

Definition mothball in American English