skim
[verb]
Synonyms:
- separate, cream
- glide, coast, float, fly, sail, soar
- usually with through: scan, glance, run one's eye over

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

skim /skɪm/ verb (past tense and past participle skimmed, present participle skimming)
[Date: 1400-1500; Origin: Perhaps from scum 'to remove scum' (14-19 centuries), from scum (noun)]

1. [transitive] to remove something from the surface of a liquid, especially floating fat, solids, or oil
skim something off/from something
After simmering the meat, skim the fat from the surface.

2. [intransitive and transitive] to read something quickly to find the main facts or ideas in it Synonym : scan:
Julie skimmed the sports page.
skim through/over
Just skim through the second section to save time.

3. [transitive] to move along quickly over a surface, never touching it or not touching it often:
seagulls skimming the waves
skim over/along/across
The ball skimmed across the grass and stopped against the wall.

4. skim stones/pebbles etc British English to throw smooth flat stones into a lake, river etc in a way that makes them jump across the surface Synonym : skip American English
skim somebody/something ↔ off phrasal verb

1. to take the best people or the best part of something for yourself:
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.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

skim
verb
ADV. barely (figurative) This report has barely skimmed the surface of the subject.
low A bird skimmed low over the heather.
PREP. across/over We skimmed across the water in a small sailing boat.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲