I. ˈskim verb
( skimmed ; skimmed ; skimming ; skims )
Etymology: Middle English skimmen, probably alteration of scumen — more at scum
transitive verb
1.
a.
(1) : to clear (a liquid) of scum or floating substance
skim boiling syrup
(2) : to remove scum or floating matter from the contents of
b. : to remove (as film or scum) from the surface of a liquid
foam rises as the liquid boils, and is skimmed off — American Guide Series: Tennessee
c.
(1) : to remove cream from (milk) by skimming
(2) : to remove (cream) from milk by skimming
d. : to remove foreign particles from the surface of molten glass in (a pot or tank)
skimming a glass pot before pouring — C.J.Phillips
e. : top 1f
f.
(1) : to remove from the surface of a solid
the dust could be skimmed from the cooking food — Russell Lord
(2) : to remove a substance from the surface of (a solid body)
then came a wind, skimming straw from the stacks — Adrian Bell
specifically : to remove roughnesses or irregularities from the surface of (a solid body)
valve seats should be very lightly skimmed with a cutter — B.C.MacDonald
g.
(1) : to remove the best or easiest obtainable contents from
forests whose treasury of bird and beast and insect secrets had been only skimmed — William Beebe
(2) : to take away (the most valuable or easiest obtainable contents)
ore beds were skimmed and abandoned for richer deposits — D.A.Shepard
nimble searchers after profits … skim the cream off markets — Hartley Withers
2. : to read, study, deal with, or examine superficially and rapidly
skims American poetry of the period — College English
specifically : to glance through (as a book) for the chief ideas or the plot
the habit of skimming volumes in bookshops — Time Literary Supplement
3. : to throw in a gliding path
skim a hat across the room
specifically : to throw so as to ricochet along the surface of water
taking a slate from the low wall and skimming it across the pond — Robert Graves
4.
a. : to cover with or as if with a film or scum
the standing water … was skimmed with ice — William Faulkner
b. : to put a finishing coat of plaster on
5. : to pass swiftly or lightly over : touch lightly, barely miss, or glide along in passing
kingfishers … darted across the water, their wings just skimming the surface — David Walden
skim the shores — Claudia Cassidy
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to pass lightly or hastily : glide or skip along, above, or near a surface
the plane skims 200 feet above ground — A.C.Fisher
skimming along the high road — D.S.Boyer
b. : to give a cursory glance or consideration
skimmed through the overseer's report book — Eve Langley
a flow of racy comment, skimming from one topic to another — Rose Macaulay
— distinguished from dip
2. : to become coated with a thin layer of film or scum
during the cold night the puddles skimmed over
3. : to put on a finishing coat of plaster
II. noun
( -s )
1. : a thin layer, coating, or film
bread with a skim of jam on it — Anthony West
a little skim of ice in the ruts — William Faulkner
2. : the act of skimming
the skim of the swallows over the grass — Virginia Woolf
3. : something skimmed ; specifically : skim milk
4. : a streak of dense seeds in glass
III. adjective
1. : that skims or is used for skimming
skim net
2.
a. : skimmed
b. : made of skim milk
skim cheese
IV. transitive verb
1. : to remove or conceal (as a portion of casino profits) to avoid payment of taxes
2. : embezzle 3
skimming money from tax revenues
intransitive verb
: to acquire money by embezzling