| Skim 1. (v. t.) 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. (v. t.) To take off by skimming; as, to skim cream. 3. (v. t.) To pass near the surface of; to brush the surface of; to glide swiftly along the surface of. 4. (v. t.) 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. 5. (v. i.) To pass lightly; to glide along in an even, smooth course; to glide along near the surface. 6. (v. i.) To hasten along with superficial attention. 7. (v. i.) To put on the finishing coat of plaster. 8. (a.) Contraction of Skimming and Skimmed. Thesaurus Entries avalanche, ball the jack, barrel, blink, boom, bowl along, breeze, breeze along, browse, brush, brush by, carefully ignore, caress, carom, clip, coast, cold-shoulder, come in contact, contact, cream, cut a corner, cut along, cut corners, dap, dart, dip into, dodge, drift, examine cursorily, fleet, flit, float, flow, fly, fly low, foot, fudge, ghost, give the once-over, glance, glance at, glance over, glance through, glide, glissade, go fast, graze, highball, hit, ice-skate, impinge, kiss, make knots, nip, nudge, osculate, outstrip the wind, page through, pass over, pass over lightly, plow the deep, pour it on, remove, ricochet, ride, ride the sea, rip, roller-skate, rub, run, run over, run through, sail, scamp, scan, scorch, scrape, scratch the surface, scud, separate, shave, shoot, sideslip, sideswipe, sizzle, skate, skateboard, ski, skid, skim over, skim the surface, skimp, skip, skip over, skirt, sled, sleigh, slidder, slide, slide down, slight, slip, slip through, slither, slubber over, slur, slur over, soar, speed, squeak by, storm along, sweep, take off, tear, tear along, thumb over, thumb through, thunder along, toboggan, touch, touch lightly, touch upon, touch upon lightly, walk the waters, whisk, whiz, zing, zip, zip through, zoom |