1 mothball /ˈmɑːθˌbɑːl/ noun plural mothballs
plural mothballs
Learner's definition of MOTHBALL
1
[count] : a small ball that contains a strong-smelling chemical and that is used to keep moths away from stored clothing卫生球；樟脑丸；防蛀丸
2
mothballs [plural] —
used in phrases like in/into mothballs and out of mothballs to describe something that is stored without being used for a long time用于in/into mothballs、out of mothballs等短语，形容长时间封存不用的东西 -
Many ships in the navy's fleet were put in mothballs after the war.战后，很多海军军舰被封存起来。
-
a computer system that has gone into mothballs长时间封存不用的计算机系统
-
The old ship is being taken out of mothballs.这条旧船在长期封存之后，重新获得启用。
—
sometimes used to describe a person (such as a performer) who has not been seen for a long time有时用于形容一个长时间没露面的人（如演艺人员） 2 mothball /ˈmɑːθˌbɑːl/ verb
mothballs; mothballed; mothballing
2 mothball
/ˈmɑːθˌbɑːl/
verb
mothballs; mothballed; mothballing
Learner's definition of MOTHBALL
[+ object]
: to stop using (something) while keeping it to be possibly used in the future封存