- mothball moth·ball n
- ['mɒθˌbɔːl]
pallina di naftalina
English-Italian dictionary. 2013.
mothball moth·ball n
Look at other dictionaries:
mothball — moth|ball1 [ mɔθ,bɔl ] noun count a small white ball made from a chemical with a strong smell that you put with clothes in order to prevent them being damaged by moths mothball moth|ball 2 [ mɔθ,bɔl ] verb transitive to decide not to continue… … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
mothball — moth ball n. A small sphere of camphor or naphthalene used to keep moths away from stored clothing. Syn: camphor ball. [WordNet 1.5] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
mothball — moth ball v. t. To put into long term storage; as, to mothball the battleships not needed after the war. [WordNet 1.5] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
mothball — ▪ I. mothball moth‧ball 1 [ˈmɒθbɔːl ǁ ˈmɒːθbɒːl] verb [transitive] 1. if an organization mothballs a factory, building etc, it closes it or does not use it for a long time but may open it or use it again in the future: • The oil company plans to… … Financial and business terms
mothball — moth•ball [[t]ˈmɔθˌbɔl, ˈmɒθ [/t]] n. 1) a small ball of naphthalene or sometimes of camphor for placing in closets or other storage areas to repel moths 2) idi in mothballs a) in reserve or storage b) in a state of disuse, rejection, or… … From formal English to slang
mothball — [môth′bôl΄] n. a small ball of naphthalene or, sometimes, camphor, the fumes of which repel moths, as from woolens, furs, etc. vt. to store with protective covering or set aside indefinitely for possible future use adj. in storage or reserve [a… … English World dictionary
mothball — {{11}}mothball (n.) also moth ball, moth ball, naphthalene ball stored among fabrics to keep off moths, 1891, from MOTH (Cf. moth) + BALL (Cf. ball) (n.1). {{12}}mothball (v.) 1902 in a literal sense (to store away with mothballs), from MOTHBALL… … Etymology dictionary
mothball — moth|ball1 [ˈmɔθbo:l US ˈmo:θbo:l] n [C usually plural] 1.) a small ball made of a strong smelling chemical, used for keeping moths away from clothes 2.) in/into mothballs kept but not used for a long time ▪ With the end of the Cold War, several… … Dictionary of contemporary English
mothball — /mawth bawl , moth /, n. 1. a small ball of naphthalene or sometimes of camphor for placing in closets or other storage areas to repel moths from clothing, blankets, etc. 2. in mothballs, a. in disuse or in storage, esp. with reference to standby … Universalium
mothball — 1. noun a small ball of chemical pesticide 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; mothballs have either naphthalene or… … Wiktionary
mothball — v. inactivate, take out of use, put into storage n. naphthalene ball used as moth repellent … English contemporary dictionary
