mothball

Universal Words noun, verb noun a small white ball made of a chemical with a strong smell, used for keeping moths away from clothes IDIOMS in mothballs stored and not in use, often for a long time: The plan has been put in mothballs. verb [VN] [usuallypassive] to decide not to use or develop sth, for a period of time, especially a piece of equipment or a plan: The original proposal had been mothballed years ago.