SKIM (skimmed, skimming)
| Pronunciation (US): |  |
Dictionary entry overview: What does skim mean?
• SKIM (noun)
The noun SKIM has 2 senses:
1. a thin layer covering the surface of a liquid
2. reading or glancing through quickly
Familiarity information: SKIM used as a noun is rare.
• SKIM (adjective)
The adjective SKIM has 1 sense:
1. used of milk and milk products from which the cream has been removed
Familiarity information: SKIM used as an adjective is very rare.
• SKIM (verb)
The verb SKIM has 7 senses:
1. travel on the surface of water
2. move or pass swiftly and lightly over the surface of
3. examine hastily
4. cause to skip over a surface
5. coat (a liquid) with a layer
6. remove from the surface
7. read superficially
Familiarity information: SKIM used as a verb is common.
Dictionary entry details
• SKIM (noun)
Meaning:
A thin layer covering the surface of a liquid
Classified under:
Nouns denoting natural objects (not man-made)
Context example:
there was a thin skim of oil on the water
Hypernyms ("skim" is a kind of...):
cover; covering; natural covering (a natural object that covers or envelops)
Meaning:
Reading or glancing through quickly
Classified under:
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents
Synonyms:
skim; skimming
Hypernyms ("skim" is a kind of...):
reading (the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message)
• SKIM (adjective)
Meaning:
Used of milk and milk products from which the cream has been removed
Synonyms:
skim; skimmed
Context examples:
yogurt made with skim milk / she can drink skimmed milk but should avoid butter
Similar:
fat-free; fatless; nonfat (without fat or fat solids)
• SKIM (verb)
Meaning:
Travel on the surface of water
Classified under:
Verbs of walking, flying, swimming
Synonyms:
skim; plane
Hypernyms (to "skim" is one way to...):
glide (move smoothly and effortlessly)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "skim"):
aquaplane (ride on an aquaplane)
aquaplane (rise up onto a thin film of water between the tires and road so that there is no more contact with the road)
Sentence frame:
Something is ----ing PP
Meaning:
Move or pass swiftly and lightly over the surface of
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Synonyms:
skim over; skim
Hypernyms (to "skim" is one way to...):
touch (make physical contact with, come in contact with)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Meaning:
Examine hastily
Classified under:
Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling
Synonyms:
glance over; scan; skim; rake; run down
Context example:
She scanned the newspaper headlines while waiting for the taxi
Hypernyms (to "skim" is one way to...):
examine; see (observe, check out, and look over carefully or inspect)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Meaning:
Cause to skip over a surface
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Synonyms:
skitter; skim; skip
Context example:
Skip a stone across the pond
Hypernyms (to "skim" is one way to...):
throw (project through the air)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s something PP
Meaning:
Coat (a liquid) with a layer
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Hypernyms (to "skim" is one way to...):
coat; surface (put a coat on; cover the surface of; furnish with a surface)
Sentence frame:
Something ----s something
Meaning:
Remove from the surface
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Synonyms:
cream off; skim off; cream; skim
Context example:
skim cream from the surface of milk
Hypernyms (to "skim" is one way to...):
remove; take; take away; withdraw (remove something concrete, as by lifting, pushing, or taking off, or remove something abstract)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Also:
skim off (pick the best)
Meaning:
Read superficially
Classified under:
Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting
Synonyms:
skim over; skim
Hypernyms (to "skim" is one way to...):
read (interpret something that is written or printed)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
