skim

Pronunciation

• IPA ^(key): /skɪm/

Verb

Plain form skim

Third-person singular skims

Past tense skimmed

Past participle skimmed

Present participle skimming

1. (transitive & intransitive) If you skim something, you move quickly and lightly near the surface.
   • Synonym: glide

   Seabirds usually skim the surface of the sea for food.

   

   A bird skimming the surface of the sea for food.

2. If you skim something, you remove a substance from the surface of a liquid.

   You must skim off the foam from the surface of the soup for it to be clear.

   

   Foam skimmed off the soup.

Related words

• skimmer
• skimming