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| Date: | 1400-1500 |
| Origin: | Perhaps from scum 'to remove scum' (14-19 centuries), from scum (noun) |
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skim
past tense and past participle skimmed, present participle skimming
past tense and past participle skimmed, present participle skimming1 [transitive] to remove something from the surface of a liquid, especially floating fat, solids, or oil
2 [intransitive and transitive] to read something quickly to find the main facts or ideas in it [= scan]: Julie skimmed the sports page.
Julie skimmed the sports page.3 [transitive] to move along quickly over a surface, never touching it or not touching it often : seagulls skimming the waves
seagulls skimming the waves4 to throw smooth, flat stones into a lake, river etc in a way that makes them jump across the surface [= skip American English]
skim stones/pebbles etc
British Englishskim somebody/something ↔ off
phrasal verb1 to take the best people or the best part of something for yourself : Professional sport skims off all the best players.
Professional sport skims off all the best players.2 to take money illegally or dishonestly : For years his business partner had been skimming off the profits.
For years his business partner had been skimming off the profits.WORD FOCUS: read WORD FOCUS: read 
to read parts of something: dip into, flick/leaf through, browse through
to read something quickly: skim, scan
to read something carefully: pore over, scrutinize
to read something long and boring: plough through British English/plow through American English, wade through
clear enough to read: legible
not clear enough to read: illegible
someone who is unable to read: illiterate
someone who likes reading very much: bookworm
➔ See also read
WORD FOCUS: read to read parts of something: dip into, flick/leaf through, browse through
to read something quickly: skim, scan
to read something carefully: pore over, scrutinize
to read something long and boring: plough through British English/plow through American English, wade through
clear enough to read: legible
not clear enough to read: illegible
someone who is unable to read: illiterate
someone who likes reading very much: bookworm
➔ See also read
