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| skim [ skim ] |
verb (past and past participle skimmed, present participle skim·ming, 3rd person present singular skims) |
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| Definition: |
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1. transitive verb scoop something from top of liquid: to remove a substance such as fat forming a layer on the surface of a liquid, usually with a large shallow spoon
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2. transitive verb rid liquid of floating material: to rid a liquid of material accumulating on its surface
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3. transitive and intransitive verb pass closely over surface of something: to pass quickly across and just above the surface of something, or make something pass in this way, sometimes touching it lightly and briefly
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4. transitive verb glance through book or paper: to read something very quickly, looking only at occasional lines or words, in order to get a general idea of its contents
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5. transitive verb send something bouncing along: to throw something so that it bounces lightly along the surface of water
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6. transitive verb treat something in cursory way: to deal with something in a superficial way
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7. transitive and intransitive verb coat or become coated with layer: to develop a thin surface layer of something, or coat an object so that its surface is covered in a thin layer of something
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8. transitive and intransitive verb embezzle: to embezzle some of the proceeds from a business
(
informal
)
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9. transitive verb hide profits to avoid taxes: to hide earnings or profits in order to avoid paying taxes on them
(
informal
)
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noun (plural skims) |
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| Definition: |
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1. thin film: a thin layer of something on a surface
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2. cursory look: a cursory look at or treatment of something
  a quick skim over the main topics on the agenda
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3. substance removed from surface of something: the matter that forms a layer on a surface and is skimmed off
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4. skimming process: the process of removing a substance from a surface
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| [15th century. < Old French escumer< escume "scum"] |
