skim

1 of 3

verb

skimmed; skimming

transitive verb

1
a
: to clear (a liquid) of scum or floating substance
skim boiling syrup
b
: to remove (a film, a layer of scum, etc.) from the surface of a liquid
c
: to remove cream from by skimming
d
: 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
6
a
: to remove or conceal (money, such as a portion of casino profits) to avoid payment of taxes
b
: embezzle
skimming money from employee pension plans

intransitive verb

1
a
: to pass lightly or hastily : glide or skip along, above, or near a surface
b
: 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

skim

2 of 3

noun

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

skim

3 of 3

adjective

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

Example Sentences

Verb 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.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Two men are accused of skimming debit card information from ATM locations throughout the Florida Panhandle to steal more than $11,000 from victims. Warren Kulo | Wkulo@al.com, al, 25 Apr. 2023 To serve, reheat in oven at 325 degrees or on stovetop, skimming and discarding fat. Kim Sunée, Anchorage Daily News, 6 Apr. 2023 So, clients either skim them or ignore them altogether. Avi Dan, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2023 Keep scrolling to skim this list for the best Lululemon alternatives that feel just like the real thing — and tbh, some feel even better. Kelsey Stiegman, Seventeen, 21 Mar. 2023 With the issue simmering in 2018, the FDA stepped in to extract some truths and skim the fat. Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 23 Feb. 2023 The top of the look had a flowing effect, almost skimming the ground as Charlene walked, and was embellished with delicate, pale embroidery. Lauren Hubbard, Town & Country, 6 May 2023 Northwest winds are forecast to skim the waters off the coast of the Peninsula, likely spilling cool breezes to the shoreline, bays and delta by Saturday evening, before engulfing the region with chilly, misty air by Sunday. Gerry Díaz, San Francisco Chronicle, 21 Apr. 2023 Chef Andrew Eppley was drawn to that tendency when skimming through Lewis’s work to find a dish for his menu at Vintage Restaurant at The Inn at Willow Grove in Orange — the site of that evening’s dinner. Marvin Joseph, Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2023
Noun
Milk options will include oat, almond, soy, skim and whole, and a handful of beverage flavorings will be available, including vanilla and hazelnut. Erik S. Hanley, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 6 Aug. 2021 Skiers and snowboarders don their brightest, most colorful garb and participate in festive—and, at times, ridiculous—spring traditions like pond skims, which involve skiing as fast as possible over a manmade pool of water dug into the snow. Sarah Kuta, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Mar. 2023 Bring liquid to a gentle boil and skim froth as needed. Kim Sunée, Anchorage Daily News, 6 Apr. 2023 Ice will be thinner where there is an active beaver run; sometimes there will just be a skim of ice over the top. Joseph Biebert, Outdoor Life, 3 Apr. 2023 Make a regular cup of coffee and add a little extra milk — regular or skim — and a tablespoon of powdered milk. Washington Post, 5 Aug. 2020 Marcus is there now with a skim net. Hazlitt, 29 Mar. 2023 Customers can request for their drinks to have regular, skim, oat or almond milk. Detroit Free Press, 8 Jan. 2023 No skim; sub for soy or almond milk, preferably. Alyssa Jung, Good Housekeeping, 6 Dec. 2022 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'skim.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

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

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1794, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of skim was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near skim

Cite this Entry

“Skim.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/skim. Accessed 30 May. 2023.

Kids Definition

skim

1 of 3 verb
skimmed; skimming
1
a
: to clear a liquid of scum or floating substance : remove (as film or scum) from the surface of a liquid
b
: to remove cream from by skimming
2
: to glance through (as a book) for the chief ideas or the plot
3
: to throw so as to bounce along the surface of water
4
: to pass swiftly or lightly over : glide or skip along, above, or near a surface

skim

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

skim

3 of 3 adjective
: having the cream removed by skimming

More from Merriam-Webster on skim

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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