camphor ball
- noun
- /ˈkæmfər bɔl/
- My grandmother always put a camphor ball in each drawer to keep the moths away.
Examples
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Be careful not to let children handle a camphor ball, as it can be toxic if ingested.
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These camphor balls keep the moths away.
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The scent of a camphor ball reminds me of old wardrobes and suitcases.
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I placed a camphor ball in my closet.
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My grandmother always put a camphor ball in each drawer to keep the moths away.
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Be careful not to let children handle a camphor ball, as it can be toxic if ingested.
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These camphor balls keep the moths away.
Synonyms
A small ball you put with stored clothes to keep moths away
How Strong
Surface Forms
Morphology
The compound is directly compositional: 'camphor' (a white substance) + 'ball' (a small spherical object) yields a ball made of or containing camphor. This follows a common material+object noun-noun pattern that a B1 learner who knows both constituents can readily interpret (though the specific use as a moth-repellent may require extra cultural knowledge).
Etymology
Camphor ball comes from the small white balls of camphor that people used to put in drawers and suitcases; their strong smell kept 'moths' away. That's why a camphor ball means a little scented ball used to protect clothes in storage.