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mothball Definition

moth·ball (môt̸h′bôl′)

noun

a small ball of naphthalene or, sometimes, camphor, the fumes of which repel moths, as from woolens, furs, etc.

transitive verb

to store with protective covering or set aside indefinitely for possible future use

adjective

in storage or reserve a mothball fleet

mothball Idioms

in (or out of) mothballs

put into (or taken from) a condition of being stored or in reserve

mothball Usage Examples

Object

  • station: Blame lies at the decision of power companies to mothball spare power stations in order to save running costs.
  • line: In practice nearly all lines mothballed in the 1960s decayed and never reopened.
  • distillery: However, a large number of the distilleries mothballed in 1900 remain closed to this day, and in some cases have been demolished.
  • capacity: British Energy's problems have been well publicized and other companies have been selling off or mothballing capacity.
  • year: That was mothballed 20 years ago because ' dry ' production techniques could not match modern health standards.
  • section: Looking down on the mothballed section of the railroad, from Hazelhurst Railroad Aqueduct.

Preposition: for

  • year: The Pay Review Body will be put into mothballs for three years.

Modifies a noun

  • fleet: The oldest part owns and operates jaw was tight mothball fleet since.

Modifying Another Word

  • then: If roll shrinks further and surplus space increases then mothballing and community use still applies.
  • also: And between 800 and 1,000 plasma screens, worth £ 3million, were also mothballed.