skimming

[ skim-ing ]

/ ˈskɪm ɪŋ /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR skimming ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

Usually skimmings. something that is removed by skimming.

skimmings, Metallurgy. dross.

Slang. the practice of concealing gambling or other profits so as to avoid paying taxes, commissions, etc.

Nearby words

skimmed milk, skimmelton, skimmer, skimmerton, skimmia, skimming, skimmings, skimobile, skimp, skimpy, skin

Origin of skimming

First recorded in 1400–50, skimming is from the late Middle English word skemmyng. See skim, -ing¹

Definition for skimming (2 of 2)

skim

[ skim ]

/ skɪm /

verb (used with object), skimmed, skim·ming.

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 take, remove, or appropriate for illegal use: to skim information from another's credit card.

verb (used without object), skimmed, skim·ming.

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.

noun

an act or instance of skimming.

something that is skimmed off.

a thin layer or film formed on the surface of something, especially a liquid, as the coagulated protein material formed on boiled milk.

a thin layer, as of mortar.

Slang. the amount taken or concealed by skimming.

skim milk.

Obsolete. scum.

Origin of skim

1375–1425; late Middle English skymen, skemen, variant of scumen to skim; see scum

SYNONYMS FOR skim

5 scan.

12 glance.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR skim ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formsun·skimmed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for skimming

Skimming a plethora of responses on weed website forums, it appears that they seldom do.
You Can Buy Pot Here: WeedPortal.com and Marijuana’s Lawless Online Frontier|Abby Haglage|October 15, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Previous generations of retirees were skimming off the top of a rapidly growing surplus.
Don't Have Enough to Worry About? Here's One More Thing: Low Growth May be Here to Stay.|Megan McArdle|March 4, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Still, some campus security consultants worry backpacks are just skimming the surface of a deeper problem.
All I Want For Christmas Is a Ballistic Shield|Eliza Shapiro|December 8, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Whisk in the flour and reduce to sauce consistency, skimming occasionally and adding more stock as necessary.
5 Healthy Spa Meals|Ratha Tep|January 13, 2011|DAILY BEAST

Simmer by side of fire for twenty minutes, skimming carefully.
Dressed Game and Poultry la Mode|Harriet A. de Salis
Then it flies, skimming low over the furze and heather, and alights on a granite boulder similar to the one it has just left.
Poachers and Poaching|John Watson
Light boats were skimming to and fro over the shallow water, whilst men and women urged onwards their flocks and laden cattle.
Discoveries among the Ruins of Nineveh and Babylon|Austen H. Layard
Simmer for half an hour, skimming occasionally and, finally add a chopped pickled gherkin.
Twenty-four Little French Dinners and How to Cook and Serve Them|Cora Moore
"I've tried both and quite agree with him," laughed Mac; and, skimming down another page, gave her a paragraph here and there.
Rose in Bloom|Louisa May Alcott

British Dictionary definitions for skimming

skim

/ (skɪm) /

verb skims, skimming or skimmed

(tr) to remove floating material from the surface of (a liquid), as with a spoonto 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 ricochetto 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

noun

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

Word Origin for skim

C15 skimmen, probably from scumen to skim; see scum

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

Word Origin and History for skimming

skim

early 15c. (skimmer, the utensil, is attested from late 14c.), "to clear (a liquid) from matter floating on the surface, lift the scum from," from Old French escumer "remove scum," from escume (Modern French écume) "scum," from a Germanic source (cf. Old High German scum "scum," German Schaum; see scum). Meaning "to throw (a stone) so as to skip across the surface of (water) is from 1610s. Meaning "to move lightly and rapidly over the surface of" is from 1650s, from the motion involved in skimming liquid; that of "to glance over carelessly" (in reference to printed matter) recorded by 1799. Related: Skimmed; skimming.

skimming

noun

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Nearby words

Origin of skimming

Definition for skimming (2 of 2)

skim

verb (used with object), skimmed, skim·ming.

verb (used without object), skimmed, skim·ming.

noun

Origin of skim

Examples from the Web for skimming

British Dictionary definitions for skimming

skim

verb skims, skimming or skimmed

noun

Word Origin for skim

Word Origin and History for skimming

skim