skim
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to read a text very quickly to find the main points without looking at every word.
v.to read or glance through a text rapidly in order to identify the main points or general gist.
Simple“I didn't have time to read the whole report, so I just skimmed it before the meeting.”
In context“The researcher skimmed through the archives, looking for any mention of the 19th-century treaty before committing to a deeper analysis.”
PitfallI skimmed through the book for find the answer. I skimmed the book to find the answer.You can 'skim a book' or 'skim through a book', but the purpose is introduced by 'to' + infinitive, not 'for'.
Antonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to remove a layer of something, like fat or cream, from the top of a liquid.
v.to remove a floating layer or substance from the surface of a liquid using a utensil.
Simple“Use a large spoon to skim the fat off the top of the soup.”
In context“The chef instructed the apprentice to carefully skim the foam from the simmering stock to ensure the final consommé remained perfectly clear.”
- 03 C1 Advanced
v.to move quickly and lightly just above or along a surface.
v.to pass or glide lightly over a surface, barely touching it.
Simple“The birds skimmed the surface of the lake looking for fish.”
In context“The dragonflies skimmed the water's surface, their wings creating tiny, rhythmic ripples in the otherwise still pond.”
- 04 C2 Proficiency
v.to steal small amounts of money from a business before it is officially recorded.
v.to illegally divert small amounts of money from a business or transaction before the funds are accounted for.
Simple“The manager was caught skimming money from the cash register every Friday.”
In context“Federal investigators discovered that the casino owners had been skimming profits for years to avoid paying corporate taxes.”
Synonymsembezzlepilfer - 05 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a quick look at a book or document to see what it is about.
n.an act of reading something quickly to grasp the general theme.
Simple“A quick skim of the newspaper told me all I needed to know about the election.”
In context“After a brief skim of the executive summary, the director felt confident enough to approve the initial phase of the project.”
- 06 B1 Intermediate
adj.describes milk that has had the cream removed so it has very little fat.
adj.referring to milk from which the cream has been removed; non-fat or low-fat.
Simple“I prefer to have skim milk in my coffee to save calories.”
In context“The recipe specifically calls for skim milk to maintain a light consistency in the custard.”
UsageIn British English, 'skimmed milk' is the standard term, whereas 'skim milk' is more common in American English.
From Middle English skemen, skymen, variants of scumen, from Old French escumer (“to remove scum”), from escume (“froth, foam”), from Frankish skūm (“froth, foam”), from Proto-Germanic skūmaz (“foam”), from Proto-Indo-European *skew- (“to cover, conceal”). See scum.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.