1. small balls of chemical pesticide used to protect stored clothing from moth damage
Usage: typically made of naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene

1. to store something away for an indefinite period; to put into storage or reserve
Usage: informal

Examples

• She placed mothballs in the closet to protect her wool sweaters.
• The old trunk smelled strongly of mothballs.
• My grandmother always kept mothballs with her winter coats.
• The company decided to mothball the project due to budget cuts.
• They mothballed the old factory until demand increased.
• The navy mothballed several ships after the war ended.