0 a small, white ball containing a chemical with a strong smell that keeps moths away from clothes --
1 to stop work on an idea, plan, or job, but leaving it in such a way that you can start on it again at some point in the future: --
2 a small ball containing chemicals with a strong smell, used esp. to protect wool clothing from moths --
3 to stop using a factory, building, etc., but leave it in a condition that allows you to use it again in the future: --
He said that the railways were being put in mothballs, but we know that none of those lines have been reopened.
He brought civil defence out of mothballs and gave it credence, which it had not had for many years.
Then we were told that it had been put in mothballs.
Finally, the time has come to remove the aspidistras and the odour of mothballs from the negotiating chambers.
We had trains lying in stock in mothballs throughout the country.
The plant was built four years ago and it is still in mothballs.
Why has it been in mothballs since it was built?
The factory still stands but is in mothballs.
