skim /skɪm/ BrE AmE verb ( past tense and past participle skimmed , present participle skimming )
[ Date: 1400-1500 ; Origin: Perhaps from scum 'to remove scum' (14-19 centuries) , from scum (noun) ]
1 . [transitive] to remove something from the surface of a liquid, especially floating fat, solids, or oil
skim something off/from something
After simmering the meat, skim the fat from the surface.
2 . [intransitive and transitive] to read something quickly to find the main facts or ideas in it SYN scan :
Julie skimmed the sports page.
skim through/over
Just skim through the second section to save time.
3 . [transitive] to move along quickly over a surface, never touching it or not touching it often:
seagulls skimming the waves
skim over/along/across
The ball skimmed across the grass and stopped against the wall.
4 . skim stones/pebbles etc British English to throw smooth flat stones into a lake, river etc in a way that makes them jump across the surface SYN skip American English
skim somebody/something ↔ off phrasal verb
1 . to take the best people or the best part of something for yourself:
Professional sport skims off all the best players.
2 . to take money illegally or dishonestly:
For years his business partner had been skimming off the profits.