skim

play

verb \ˈskim\

Definition of skim

skimmed

;

skimming

transitive verb
1a : to clear (a liquid) of scum or floating substance skim boiling syrupb : to remove (a film, a layer of scum, etc.) from the surface of a liquidc : to remove cream from by skimmingd : to remove the best or most easily obtainable contents from
2 : to read, study, or examine superficially and rapidly; especially : to glance through (something, such as a book) for the chief ideas or the plot
3 : to throw in a gliding path; especially : to throw so as to ricochet along the surface of water
4 : to cover with or as if with a film, scum, or coat
5 : to pass swiftly or lightly over
6a : to remove or conceal (money, such as a portion of casino profits) to avoid payment of taxesb : embezzle skimming money from employee pension plans
intransitive verb
1a : to pass lightly or hastily : glide or skip along, above, or near a surfaceb : to give a cursory glance, consideration, or reading
2 : to become coated with a thin layer of film or scum
3 : to put on a finishing coat of plaster
4 : to embezzle money

See skim defined for English-language learners

See skim defined for kids

Examples of skim in a Sentence

He skimmed the leaves from the pool.
The cream is skimmed from the milk.
The milk is skimmed before it is bottled.
She only skimmed the reading assignment.
She only skimmed through the reading assignment.

Origin and Etymology of skim

Middle English skymmen, skemen, probably from Anglo-French escumer, from escume foam, scum, of Germanic origin; akin to Middle Dutch schum scum — more at scum

First Known Use: 14th century

skim

noun

Definition of skim

1 : a thin layer, coating, or film
2 : the act of skimming
3 : something skimmed; specifically : skim milk

14th Century

First Known Use of skim

14th century

skim

adjective

Definition of skim

1 : having the cream removed by skimming
2 : made of skim milk skim cheese

1794

First Known Use of skim

1794

Other Food Terms

Reuben, calamari, chuck, curry, edamame, foie gras, hummus, leaven, nonpareil, peel

SKIM Defined for English Language Learners

skim

play

verb

Definition of skim for English Language Learners

: to remove a layer of something from the surface of a liquid
: to look over or read (something) quickly especially to find the main ideas
: to throw (a flat stone) along the surface of water so that it bounces

SKIM Defined for Kids

skim

play

verb \ˈskim\

Definition of skim for Students

skimmed

;

skimming

1 : to clean a liquid of scum or floating substance : remove (as cream or film) from the top part of a liquid
2 : to read or examine quickly and not thoroughly I skimmed the newspaper.
3 : to skip (a stone) along the surface of water
4 : to pass swiftly or lightly over He brushed the treetops / And skimmed the grass … — Shel Silverstein, Where the Sidewalk Ends