skim
to take up or remove (floating matter) from the surface of a liquid, as with a spoon or ladle: to skim the cream from milk.
to clear (liquid) thus: to skim milk.
to move or glide lightly over or along (a surface, as of water): The sailboat skimmed the lake.
to throw in a smooth, gliding path over or near a surface, or so as to bounce or ricochet along a surface: to skim a stone across the lake.
to read, study, consider, treat, etc., in a superficial or cursory manner.
to cover, as a liquid, with a thin film or layer: Ice skimmed the lake at night.
to take the best or most available parts or items from: Bargain hunters skimmed the flea markets early in the morning.
to take (the best or most available parts or items) from something: The real bargains had been skimmed by early shoppers.
Metallurgy. to remove (slag, scum, or dross) from the surface of molten metal.
Slang. to conceal a portion of (winnings, earnings, etc.) in order to avoid paying income taxes, commissions, or the like on the actual total revenue (sometimes followed by off): The casino skimmed two million a year.
to appropriate (credit or debit card information) electronically for illegal use: A hidden device can skim your account number while you’re pumping gas, paying for groceries, etc.
to pass or glide lightly over or near a surface.
to read, study, consider, etc., something in a superficial or cursory way.
to become covered with a thin film or layer.
Slang. to conceal gambling or other profits so as to avoid paying taxes, etc.; practice skimming.
an act or instance of skimming.
something that is skimmed off.
Origin of skim
1Other words for skim
Other words from skim
- un·skimmed, adjective
Words Nearby skim
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use skim in a sentence
Fat-free or skim milkEveryone knows milk is an excellent source of calcium that will keep your bones in tip-top shape.
And good for Bruno, bless his heart, who is truly the skim milk of pop music.
Your Super Bowl Etiquette Guide From Food to Clothes to What Not to Say | Kelly Williams Brown | February 1, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTAnd the iTunes story makes music—arguably the most mysterious, magical art form—as accessible and ubiquitous as skim milk.
From Bieber to the Beatles, How the iTunes Store Brooklynized Music | Justin Moyer | May 5, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTskim off most of the fat with a spoon: just dip in, get a spoonful of fat, and remove.
Drinks at the dinner table are restricted to “water and skim milk.”
All summer we have had three calves that came to the orchard fence twice a day to get their ration of skim milk and feeding flour.
The Red Cow and Her Friends | Peter McArthurWhen the birds are done, skim off all grease, add the juice of a lemon, and serve hot.
Dressed Game and Poultry la Mode | Harriet A. de SalisYou don't suppose, do you, I've had time since Tuesday to read all this through and skim off the cream?'
Wandering Heath | Sir Arthur Thomas Quiller-CouchIn our own little book we have been compelled to skim lightly, and, in many places, to pass over subjects of great interest.
The Ocean and its Wonders | R.M. BallantyneNow, I have made a calculation, and I am satisfied that Mrs. skim can not possibly make much profit out of me.
British Dictionary definitions for skim
/ (skɪm) /
(tr) to remove floating material from the surface of (a liquid), as with a spoon: to skim milk
to glide smoothly or lightly over (a surface)
(tr) to throw (something) in a path over a surface, so as to bounce or ricochet: to skim stones over water
(when intr, usually foll by through) to read (a book) in a superficial or cursory manner
to cover (a liquid) with a thin layer or (of liquid) to become coated in this way, as with ice, scum, etc
the act or process of skimming
material skimmed off a liquid, esp off milk
the liquid left after skimming
any thin layer covering a surface
Origin of skim
1- See also skim off
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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