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Shelve vs Mothball - What's the difference?

shelve | mothball |

As verbs the difference between shelve and mothball

is that shelve is to place on a shelf while mothball is to store or shelve (something that is no longer used).

As nouns the difference between shelve and mothball

is that shelve is a rocky ledge or shelf while mothball is a small ball of chemical pesticide 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; mothballs have either naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene as their active ingredient.

shelve

English

Verb

(shelv)
  • to place on a shelf
    • The library needs volunteers to help shelve books.
  • to store, set aside, quit, or halt
    • They shelved the entire project when they heard how much it would cost.
  • To furnish with shelves.
    • to shelve a closet or a library
  • (Wales, slang) to have sex with

    • Synonyms

    * (set aside) pigeonhole, table

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A rocky ledge or shelf.
  • * 1819 , Lord Byron, Don Juan , II.181:
    • And all was stillness, save the sea-bird's cry, / And dolphin's leap, and little billow crossed / By some low rock or shelve , that made it fret / Against the boundary it scarcely wet.

    Anagrams

    *

    mothball

    English

    Alternative forms

    * moth ball * moth-ball

    Noun

    (wikipedia mothball) (en noun)
  • a small ball of chemical pesticide 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; mothballs have either naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene as their active ingredient.

    • Derived terms

    * in mothballs

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • to store or shelve (something that is no longer used)
    • They mothballed the old version after the new one came out.
  • * 2014 , A teacher, " Choosing a primary school: a teacher's guide for parents", The Guardian , 23 September 2014:
    • Some schools might have an art studio, an area of forestry in the playground, or a performance stage in the hall – all exceptional assets. Just check they get plenty of use and aren't mothballed while the school concentrates on (you guessed it) maths and literacy.

    Synonyms

    * shelve

    Derived terms

    * mothballed