skimming
Origin of skimming
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 take, remove, or appropriate for illegal use: to skim information from another's credit card.
- 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.
Origin of skim
Synonyms for skim
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comRelated Words for skimming
shave, glance, graze, skip, skitter, ricochet, dart, carom, scan, browse, ream, ladle, top, separate, scoop, brush, dip, cream, shoot, flyExamples 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 FrontierAbby 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.
Whisk in the flour and reduce to sauce consistency, skimming occasionally and adding more stock as necessary.
Historical Examples of skimming
Cover them with water, and stew it slowly for an hour, skimming it well.
Directions for Cookery, in its Various BranchesEliza Leslie
Keep the lid close, except when you are skimming off the fat.
Directions for Cookery, in its Various BranchesEliza Leslie
Keep the pan closely covered, except when you are skimming it.
Directions for Cookery, in its Various BranchesEliza Leslie
Skim them well, and keep the kettle covered when you are not skimming.
Directions for Cookery, in its Various BranchesEliza Leslie
Boil it slowly for two or three hours, skimming it carefully.
Directions for Cookery, in its Various BranchesEliza Leslie
skim
- (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
- 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
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.