Meaning of skim in English
Table of contents
Verb
skimEtymology
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. move or pass swiftly and lightly over the surface of
- 3. examine hastily
Examples
- « She scanned the newspaper headlines while waiting for the taxi »
Derived terms
- 4. cause to skip over a surface
Examples
- « Skip a stone across the pond »
- 5. coat (a liquid) with a layer
- 6. remove from the surface
Examples
- « skim cream from the surface of milk »
Derived terms
- 7. read superficially
Derived terms
Classifying Adjective
skimDefinitions
1. used of milk and milk products from which the cream has been removedExamples
- « yogurt made with skim milk »
- « she can drink skimmed milk but should avoid butter »
Synonyms
Noun
skimDefinitions
1. a thin layer covering the surface of a liquidExamples
- « there was a thin skim of oil on the water »
Derived terms
- 2. reading or glancing through quickly
Derived terms
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