mothball

Plural: mothballs

Noun

• a small sphere of camphor or naphthalene used to keep moths away from stored clothing
• A small ball of chemical pesticide (typically naphthalene) and deodorant placed in or around clothing and other articles susceptible to damage from mold or moth larvae in order to protect them from this damage.

Verb

Verb Forms: mothballed, mothballing, mothballs

• To put something into storage, often for a long time.
• put into long-term storage
• To store or shelve something no longer used.
• To stop using (something), but keep it in good condition.

Examples

• He had to MOTHBALL his strategy when his key letters refused to appear.
• They mothballed the old version after the new one came out.

Synonyms

camphor ball, defer, set aside, shelve, store

Antonyms

demothball, unmothball

Anagrams of mothball