Transcription
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
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- [mawth-bawl, moth-]
- /ˈmɔθˌbɔl, ˈmɒθ-/
- /ˈmɒθ.bɔːl/
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [mawth-bawl, moth-]
- /ˈmɔθˌbɔl, ˈmɒθ-/
Definitions of mothball word
- noun mothball a small ball of naphthalene or sometimes of camphor for placing in closets or other storage areas to repel moths from clothing, blankets, etc. 1
- verb with object mothball to put into storage or reserve; inactivate. 1
- adjective mothball inactive; unused; stored away: a mothball fleet. 1
- idioms mothball in mothballs, in disuse or in storage, especially with reference to standby equipment. (of ideas) dismissed as unworthy of further deliberation. 1
- noun mothball A small pellet of a pungent substance, typically naphthalene, put among stored clothes to keep away moths. 1
- noun mothball pesticide for clothing 1
Information block about the term
Origin of mothball
First appearance:
before 1905 One of the 15% newest English words
First recorded in 1905-10; moth + ball1
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Mothball
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
mothball popularity
A pretty common term. Usually people know it’s meaning, but prefer to use a more spread out synonym. About 62% of English native speakers know the meaning and use word.
This word is included in each student's vocabulary. Most likely there is at least one movie with this word in the title.
mothball usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for mothball
verb mothball
- perpetuate — to make perpetual.
- protect — to defend or guard from attack, invasion, loss, annoyance, insult, etc.; cover or shield from injury or danger.
- save — to rescue from danger or possible harm, injury, or loss: to save someone from drowning.
- secure — free from or not exposed to danger or harm; safe.
- uphold — to support or defend, as against opposition or criticism: He fought the duel to uphold his family's honor.
Antonyms for mothball
verb mothball
- harm — a U.S. air-to-surface missile designed to detect and destroy radar sites by homing on their emissions.
- injure — to do or cause harm of any kind to; damage; hurt; impair: to injure one's hand.
- squander — to spend or use (money, time, etc.) extravagantly or wastefully (often followed by away).
- release — to lease again.
- use — to employ for some purpose; put into service; make use of: to use a knife.
Top questions with mothball
- how to get rid of mothball smell?
- how to get mothball smell out of clothes?
- what is a mothball?
- how to remove mothball smell?
- how to get rid of mothball smell from clothes?
- how to get mothball smell out?
- how to get rid of mothball smell in clothes?
- how do you get rid of mothball smell?
- how to get mothball smell out of washing machine?
- how to remove mothball smell from wool?
- how to get mothball smell out of furniture?
- how to get mothball smell out of house?
- how to get mothball smell out of car?
- how to get rid of mothball smell in dresser?
- how to remove mothball smell from clothes?
See also
Matching words
- Words starting with m
- Words starting with mo
- Words starting with mot
- Words starting with moth
- Words starting with mothb
- Words starting with mothba
- Words starting with mothbal
- Words starting with mothball