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Meaning of skim in English

Table of contents
  1. Pronunciation
  2. Verb
    1. Etymology
    2. Definitions
  3. Classifying Adjective
    1. Definitions
  4. Noun
    1. Definitions
  1. Pronunciation

    /skɪm/

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  1. Verb

    skim

    Etymology

    Middle English (in the sense ‘remove scum from (a liquid)’): back-formation from skimmer, or from Old French escumer, from escume‘scum, foam’

    Definitions

    1. travel on the surface of water
  2. 2. move or pass swiftly and lightly over the surface of
  3. 3. examine hastily

    Examples

    • « She scanned the newspaper headlines while waiting for the taxi »

    Derived terms

    • skimming
  4. 4. cause to skip over a surface

    Examples

    • « Skip a stone across the pond »
  5. 5. coat (a liquid) with a layer
  6. 6. remove from the surface

    Examples

    • « skim cream from the surface of milk »

    Derived terms

    • skimmer
    • skimming
  7. 7. read superficially

    Derived terms

    • skimmer
    • skimming
  8. Classifying Adjective

    skim

    Definitions

    1. used of milk and milk products from which the cream has been removed

    Examples

    • « yogurt made with skim milk »
    • « she can drink skimmed milk but should avoid butter »

    Synonyms

    • nonfat
    • fat-free
    • fatless
  9. Noun

    skim

    Definitions

    1. a thin layer covering the surface of a liquid

    Examples

    • « there was a thin skim of oil on the water »

    Derived terms

    • cream
    • cream off
    • skim off
  10. 2. reading or glancing through quickly

    Derived terms

    • glance over
    • rake
    • run down
    • scan
    • skim over

Famous quotes

  • « You go to college not only for the latest knowledge but also to meet people from different backgrounds. That's the genius of the American higher-education system compared with the Europeans'. We don't simply skim the elite. »
    Donna Shalala

Browse dictionary

  • skilly
  • skillfulness
  • skillfully
  • skillful
  • skim
  • skimcoat
  • skimmed
  • skimmed milk
  • skimmer
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