mothball
pronunciation
How to pronounce mothball in British English:
UK [ˈmɒθbɔ:l]
How to pronounce mothball in American English:
US [ˈmɔθbɔl]
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- Noun:
- a small sphere of camphor or naphthalene used to keep moths away from stored clothing
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- Verb:
- put into long-term storage
Word Origin
- mothball (n.)
- also moth-ball, moth ball, "naphthalene ball stored among fabrics to keep off moths," 1891, from moth + ball (n.1).
- mothball (v.)
- 1902 in a literal sense (to store away with mothballs), from mothball (n.); figurative sense from 1901.
Example
- 1. When demand for labour falls , firms want to hang on to them , just as they might mothball an expensive piece of machinery .
- 2. Moreover , since nuclear plants are cheap to operate but expensive to mothball , they are often run at full tilt even when demand for power slackens .
- 3. European electricity and natural gas prices shot up as the market braced for the double impact of germany 's decision to mothball one-third of its nuclear capacity and japan 's utilities stepped up purchases of liquefied natural gas to offset atomic power .
- 4. The world faces a glut of natural gas that will force the us to scrap plans for new import terminals and mothball much of its existing capacity , the international energy agency says .
- 5. The company on friday signalled slow progress in its search for an investor for what it sees as leading-edge technology , declaring it would begin running down its plants in germany and portugal in order to mothball them by the end of the month .