Skim (skim), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Skimmed (skimd); p. pr. & vb. n. Skimming.] [Cf. Sw. skymma to darken. √158. See Scum.]
1.
To clear (a liquid) from scum or substance floating or lying thereon, by means of a utensil that passes just beneath the surface; as, to skim milk; to skim broth.
2.
To take off by skimming; as, to skim cream.
3.
To pass near the surface of; to brush the surface of; to glide swiftly along the surface of.
Homer describes Mercury as flinging himself from the top of Olympus, and skimming the surface of the ocean.
Hazlitt.
4.
Fig.: To read or examine superficially and rapidly, in order to cull the principal facts or thoughts; as, to skim a book or a newspaper.
© Webster 1913
Skim, v. i.
1.
To pass lightly; to glide along in an even, smooth course; to glide along near the surface.
Not so when swift Camilla scours the plain,
Flies o'er the unbending corn, and skims along the main.
Pope.
2.
To hasten along with superficial attention.
They skim over a science in a very superficial survey.
I. Watts.
3.
To put on the finishing coat of plaster.
© Webster 1913
Skim, a.
Contraction of Skimming and Skimmed.
Skim coat, the final or finishing coat of plaster. --
Skim colter, a colter for paring off the surface of land. --
Skim milk, skimmed milk; milk from which the cream has been taken.
© Webster 1913
Skim, n.
Scum; refuse. Bryskett.
© Webster 1913