maxiewawa

Mothball is both a noun and a verb.

The noun refers to a small ball, actually a kind of poison. You put them near clothes and they stop mould and moths from destroying them.

They smell quite bad, so you usually only use them for clothes that you aren’t going to use for a long time.

Over time the word “mothball” has gained another meaning. If you don’t plan on using something for a long time, of if you are abandoning it forever, you are “mothballing” it.

So:

Germany to mothball all 17 of its nuclear reactors (The German government plans to stop making nuclear power)

In June, the US space agency, Nasa, will mothball its whole fleet of space shuttles (NASA will stop using its space shuttles)

Don’t Mothball Your Old Car, Repair It For Less (You can repair your car, which is cheaper than selling it)