skimming

[skim-ing]

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.

Origin of skimming

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

skim

[skim]

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

Related formsun·skimmed, adjective

Synonyms for skim

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR skim ON THESAURUS.COM

5. scan. 12. glance.

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

Related Words for skimming

shave, glance, graze, skip, skitter, ricochet, dart, carom, scan, browse, ream, ladle, top, separate, scoop, brush, dip, cream, shoot, fly

Examples from the Web for skimming

Contemporary Examples of 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
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
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
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

Historical Examples of skimming

Cover them with water, and stew it slowly for an hour, skimming it well.
Directions for Cookery, in its Various Branches
Eliza Leslie
Keep the lid close, except when you are skimming off the fat.
Directions for Cookery, in its Various Branches
Eliza Leslie
Keep the pan closely covered, except when you are skimming it.
Directions for Cookery, in its Various Branches
Eliza Leslie
Skim them well, and keep the kettle covered when you are not skimming.
Directions for Cookery, in its Various Branches
Eliza Leslie
Boil it slowly for two or three hours, skimming it carefully.
Directions for Cookery, in its Various Branches
Eliza Leslie

British Dictionary definitions for skimming

skim

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.