mothballs

/ˈmɔθˌbɔlz/ /ˈmɑθˌbɔlz/

Meanings

noun

(usually in plural) A small ball of chemical pesticide (typically naphthalene) and deodorant placed in or around clothing and other articles susceptible to damage from mold or moth larvae in order to protect them from this damage.

Examples :

"My grandmother puts mothballs in her closet to protect her winter coats from moths. "

Related Words

pesticide noun

/ˈpɛstɨsaɪd/ /ˈpɛstɪ̈ˌsaɪd/

Anything, especially a synthetic substance but also any substance (e.g. sulfur), or virus, bacterium, or other organism, which kills or suppresses the activities of pests.

"The farmer sprayed pesticide on his crops to protect them from insects. "

grandmother noun

/ˈɡɹæn(d)ˌmʌðə(r)/ /ˈɡɹæn(d)ˌmʌðɚ/

A mother of someone's parent.

"My grandmother taught me how to bake cookies when I was a child. "

usually adverb

/ˈjuːʒju(ə)li/ /ˈjuːʒ(ʊə)li/

Most of the time; less than always, but more than occasionally.

"Except for one or two days a year, he usually walks to work."

susceptible noun

/səˈsɛptɪbl̩/

A person who is vulnerable to being infected by a certain disease

"The susceptible in our class are getting the flu. "

protect verb

/pɹəˈtɛkt/

To keep safe; to defend; to guard; to prevent harm coming to.

"Condoms are designed to protect against sexually-transmitted diseases."

naphthalene noun

/ˈnæfθəliːn/ /ˈneɪfθəliːn/

A white crystalline hydrocarbon manufactured from coal tar; used in mothballs.

"Grandma used naphthalene to keep moths away from her woolen sweaters. "

plural noun

/ˈplɔː.ɹəl/ /ˈpləɹəl/

(grammar) The plural number.

"The plural of "cat" is "cats." "

typically adverb

/ˈtɪp.ɪ.kl.i/

In a typical or common manner.

"My sister, typically, wakes up early for school. "

articles noun

/ˈɑːtɪkəlz/ /ˈɑɹtɪkəlz/

A piece of nonfictional writing such as a story, report, opinion piece, or entry in a newspaper, magazine, journal, dictionary, encyclopedia, etc.

"The student needed to read three articles about climate change for her science report. "

deodorant noun

/diˈəʊdəɹənt/ /diˈoʊdəɹənt/

Any agent acting to eliminate, reduce, mask, or control odor.

"My brother uses deodorant to prevent body odor before school. "

clothing verb

/ˈkləʊðɪŋ/ /ˈkloʊðɪŋ/

To adorn or cover with clothing; to dress; to supply clothes or clothing.

"to feed and clothe a family; to clothe oneself extravagantly"

chemical noun

/ˈkɛmɪkəl/

Any specific chemical element or chemical compound or alloy.

"The scientist studied the chemical composition of the soil sample. "