Meaning & Definition of Skim in English

Detailed Definitions

• Definition: To remove a substance from the surface of a liquid.

  Example Sentence: She skimmed the foam off the top of the soup.

• Definition: To read or glance through quickly.

  Example Sentence: I skimmed the article to get the main ideas.

• Definition: To glide or slide over the surface.

  Example Sentence: The stone skimmed across the water.

• Definition: To take away a part of something.

  Example Sentence: He skims a portion of the profits for himself.

Etymology

Origin: Middle English 'skimmen', from Old Norse 'skíma' meaning 'to glimmer, shine'.

Synonyms

Common Phrases and Expressions

• skim the surface: To examine a topic superficially without going into depth.
• skim milk: Milk from which the cream has been removed.
• skim read: To read quickly to get a general idea of the content.

Translations

• Spanish: deslizar

• French: frôler

• German: streifen

• Russian: скользить

Related Words

• skimmer: A device or person that removes surface material.

• skimpy: Insufficient in quantity or size.

Slang Meanings of skim

• Meaning: To cheat or take advantage of someone subtly.

  Example Sentence: He tried to skim some money off the top during the transaction.

• Meaning: To briefly check out something (like a website or social media post).

  Example Sentence: I just skimmed through his profile to see his recent activity.