Printer Friendly
Dictionary, Encyclopedia and Thesaurus - The Free Dictionary
1,517,996,860 visitors served.
forum mailing list For webmasters
?
New: Language forums
Dictionary/
thesaurus
Medical
dictionary
Legal
dictionary
Financial
dictionary
Acronyms
 
Idioms
Encyclopedia
Wikipedia
encyclopedia
?

Skimming

   Also found in: Medical, Financial, Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia 0.09 sec.
skim  (skm)
v. skimmed, skim·ming, skims
v.tr.
1.
a. To remove floating matter from (a liquid).
b. To remove (floating matter) from a liquid.
c. To take away the choicest or most readily attainable contents or parts from.
2. To coat or cover with or as if with a thin layer, as of scum.
3.
a. To throw so as to bounce or slide: skimming stones on the pond.
b. To glide or pass quickly and lightly over or along (a surface). See Synonyms at brush1.
4. To read or glance through (a book, for example) quickly or superficially.
5. Slang To fail to declare part of (certain income, such as winnings) to avoid tax payment.
v.intr.
1. To move or pass swiftly and lightly over or near a surface; glide.
2. To give a quick and superficial reading, scrutiny, or consideration; glance: skimmed through the newspaper.
3. To become coated with a thin layer.
4. Slang To fail to declare certain income to avoid tax payment.
n.
1. The act of skimming.
2. Something that has been skimmed.
3. A thin layer or film.
4. Slang The profit gained by skimming.

[Middle English skimmen, perhaps from Old French escumer, to remove scum, from escume, scum, of Germanic origin; see (s)keu- in Indo-European roots.]
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.Skimmingskimming - the act of removing floating material from the surface of a liquid
remotion, removal - the act of removing; "he had surgery for the removal of a malignancy"
2.skimming - reading or glancing through quickly
reading - the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message; "his main reading was detective stories"; "suggestions for further reading"
3.skimming - failure to declare income in order to avoid paying taxes on it
larceny, stealing, theft, thievery, thieving - the act of taking something from someone unlawfully; "the thieving is awful at Kennedy International"
4.skimming - the act of brushing against while passing
touching, touch - the act of putting two things together with no space between them; "at his touch the room filled with lights"


How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content.
?Page tools
Printer friendly
Cite / link
Email
Feedback
Add definition
? Mentioned in ? References in classic literature
 
One day he happened to see a Swallow, which had appeared before its season, skimming along a pool and twittering gaily.
In reality, she was a true balancelle, with two short masts raking forward and two curved yards, each as long as her hull; a true child of the Latin lake, with a spread of two enormous sails resembling the pointed wings on a sea-bird's slender body, and herself, like a bird indeed, skimming rather than sailing the seas.
Milking was done betimes; and before the milking came the skimming, which began at a little past three.
 
Dictionary/thesaurus browser? ? Full browser
 
 
Dictionary, Thesaurus, and Translations
?

Disclaimer | Privacy policy | Feedback | Copyright © 2009 Farlex, Inc.
All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional. Terms of Use.