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| moth·ball [ máwth bàwl ] |
noun (plural moth·balls) |
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| Definition: |
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moth-repellent chemical ball: a small ball of a strong-smelling chemical such as camphor or naphthalene, used for keeping clothes moths away from clothing and other materials
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transitive verb (past and past participle moth·balled, present participle moth·ball·ing, 3rd person present singular moth·balls) |
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| Definition: |
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1. put something off indefinitely: to postpone work or discussion on something for an indefinite time
  mothballed the expansion plans
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2. industry shut down factory: to take a factory out of operation but protect the equipment in it so that it can be used again at some time in the future
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3. nautical aerospace seal craft for storage: to seal all the openings in a ship or aircraft in order to protect it from corrosion while it is not in use
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in mothballs put aside or stored and not in use
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