MOTHBALL

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does mothball mean? 

• MOTHBALL (noun)
  The noun MOTHBALL has 1 sense:

1. a small sphere of camphor or naphthalene used to keep moths away from stored clothing

  Familiarity information: MOTHBALL used as a noun is very rare.

• MOTHBALL (verb)
  The verb MOTHBALL has 1 sense:

1. put into long-term storage

  Familiarity information: MOTHBALL used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• MOTHBALL (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A small sphere of camphor or naphthalene used to keep moths away from stored clothing

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

camphor ball; mothball

Hypernyms ("mothball" is a kind of...):

ball; globe; orb (an object with a spherical shape)

Meronyms (substance of "mothball"):

camphor (a resin obtained from the camphor tree; used in making celluloid and liniment)

naphthalene (a white crystalline strong-smelling hydrocarbon made from coal tar or petroleum and used in organic synthesis and as a fumigant in mothballs)

Derivation:

mothball (put into long-term storage)

• MOTHBALL (verb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Put into long-term storage

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

Hypernyms (to "mothball" is one way to...):

store (find a place for and put away for storage)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sentence example:

They mothball the cape

Derivation:

mothball (a small sphere of camphor or naphthalene used to keep moths away from stored clothing)

 Context examples 

It has a very unique smell and taste and is used in commercial products (for example, mothballs).

(Camphor, NCI Dictionary)

A white, volatile, solid polycyclic hydrocarbon with a strong mothball odor.

(Naphthalene, NCI Thesaurus)

These chemicals are also made for use in many products, including coal tar, creosote, roofing tar, pesticides, mothballs, dandruff shampoos, and some medicines.

(PAH, NCI Dictionary)