v. & n.
--v. (skimmed, skimming)
1. tr. a take scum or cream or a floating layer from the surface of (a liquid). b take (cream etc.) from the surface of a liquid.
2 tr. a keep touching lightly or nearly touching (a surface) in passing over. b deal with or treat (a subject) superficially.
3 intr. a (often foll. by over, along) go lightly over a surface, glide along in the air. b (foll. by over) sense 2b of v.
4 a tr. read superficially, look over cursorily, gather the salient facts contained in. b intr. (usu. foll. by through) read or look over cursorily.
5 tr. US sl. conceal or divert (income) to avoid paying tax.
--n.
1. the act or an instance of skimming.
2 a thin covering on a liquid (skim of ice).
Phrases and idioms:
skim the cream off take the best part of. skim (or skimmed) milk milk from which the cream has been skimmed.
Etymology: ME, back-form. f. SKIMMER