Mothballed: meaning, definitions and examples
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mothballed
[ ˈmɔθˌbɔld ]
frozen assets
To mothball something means to temporarily put it out of use or to suspend its operation. This term is often used in reference to industrial equipment or projects that are not currently active but may be resumed in the future. It signifies a status where items or plans are preserved and protected, but not actively utilized. The origins suggest a connection to mothballs, which are used to repel moths and preserve clothing, thus metaphorically linking the preservation of unused items.
Synonyms
abandon, close, preserve, suspend
Examples of usage
- The factory was mothballed during the economic downturn.
- After the project was mothballed, many employees were laid off.
- The government decided to mothball the infrastructure plan.
- These older machines are mothballed until demand increases.
Translations
Translations of the word "mothballed" in other languages:
🇵🇹 desativado
🇮🇳 किसी चीज़ को बंद करना
🇩🇪 stillgelegt
🇮🇩 dibekukan
🇺🇦 законсервований
🇵🇱 wstrzymany
🇯🇵 休止した
🇫🇷 mis en veille
🇪🇸 paralizado
🇹🇷 kapatılmış
🇰🇷 운영 중단된
🇸🇦 مُتوقف
🇨🇿 pozastavený
🇸🇰 pozastavený
🇨🇳 停用的
🇸🇮 ustavljen
🇮🇸 stöðvaður
🇰🇿 тоқтатылған
🇬🇪 შეჩერებული
🇦🇿 dayandırılmış
🇲🇽 paralizado
Etymology
The term 'mothballed' originated in the United States in the early 20th century. It derives from the practice of using mothballs made from naphthalene to protect clothing and textiles from being eaten by moths. The action of 'mothballing' something implies not only the act of putting it away for safekeeping but also includes an element of prevention against decay or degradation. The use of the term has broadened over time to encompass various fields such as industry, infrastructure, and even mental health, where plans or projects are temporarily halted yet retained for possible future revival. The metaphor emphasizes the idea of preserving something in a state of suspended animation, ready for future use when conditions become favorable.