Home › Words › M › mothballmothball/ˈmɒθbɔːl/mothball means 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.mothball is pronounced /ˈmɒθbɔːl/.EtymologyThe noun is derived from moth + ball. The verb is derived from the noun.nounA 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.e.g.“There were two carloads of equipments. Upon their return to the armory the blankets were shook and repacked with mothballs; […]” — 1904, E. P. Burlingame, “Financial Statement to Accompany the Report of the Adjutant General”, in Annual Report of the Adjutant General of Oklahoma: for the Year Ending December 31, 1904 […], Guthrie,verbTo 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.e.g.“They mothballed the old version after the new one came out.”To stop work on (a plan, project, etc.) for the time being; to postpone, to shelve.e.g.“The fact that the START Treaty has just been signed is reason enough not to build one rail garrison train before mothballing the project.” — 1991 September 26, [Carl] Levin, “Department of Defense Appropriations Act, Fiscal Year 1992”, in Congressional Record: Proceedings and Debates of the 102d Congress, First Session (United States SenatDefinitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).Words closest in meaningBy meaning, not spelling — each word's AI semantic fingerprint, nearest first.mothballer 73% match — One who mothballs something. vs mothball →mothbally 65% match — Resembling or suggesting mothballs, especially their distinctive odour. vs mothball →mothproofing 64% match — A substance designed to repel moths. vs mothball →mothballing 63% match — The act of something being mothballed: taken out of service and stored for possible later use. vs mothball →mothicide 61% match — A substance that kills moths. vs mothball →naphthalene 58% match — A white crystalline hydrocarbon manufactured from coal tar; used in mothballs. vs mothball →mothballed 55% match — Kept in good condition for possible future use. (of something out of use) vs mothball →muskball 52% match — A ball containing musk as a perfuming sachet. vs mothball →