- present participle of skim.
skimming
Americannoun
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Usually skimmings. floating matter that is removed from the surface of a liquid.
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Metallurgy. skimmings, dross.
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Slang. the practice of concealing gambling or other profits so as to avoid paying taxes, commissions, etc..
An audit of their cleaning business uncovered several years of skimming.
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the practice of electronically appropriating account numbers or other confidential data for illegal use.
A chip is embedded in the credit card to prevent skimming.
Etymology
Origin of skimming
First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English skemmyng; see skim, -ing 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Rentner led visitors around by boat then, skimming over the inundated land.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 26, 2026
Working with U.S. law enforcement agencies, Romanian officials are moving to seize assets in Romania acquired with skimming proceeds.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 20, 2026
While exports continued well into the 20th Century, the industry was dealt a devastating blow in 1881 by a huge wave that flooded the seven quarries, including the venue for the skimming contest.
From BBC ● Sep. 4, 2026
Michael Jackson showed off his signature move, the moonwalk, on television in 1983, skimming backwards across the stage to his No. 1 hit “Billie Jean.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 3, 2026
Pax sped by again, scarcely skimming the ground, but it wasn’t celebration enough.
From "Pax" by Sara Pennypacker
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
