The sailboat skimmed over the waves like a bird.
•The bird skimmed over the treetops, darting and dodging.
2. Fig. to go over or review something hastily. •I just skimmed over the material and still got an A on the test!
•Please skim over chapter four for Thursday.
Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.
skim over — verb 1. read superficially (Freq. 1) • Syn: ↑skim • Derivationally related forms: ↑skim (for: ↑skim), ↑skimmer (for: ↑ … Useful english dictionary
skim — [skım] v 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.) [T] to remove something from the surface of a liquid, especially… … Dictionary of contemporary English
skim — ► VERB (skimmed, skimming) 1) remove (a substance) from the surface of a liquid. 2) move quickly and lightly over or on a surface or through the air. 3) read through quickly, noting only the important points. 4) (skim over) deal with or treat… … English terms dictionary
skim — verb (skims, skimming, skimmed) 1》 remove (a substance) from the surface of a liquid. 2》 move quickly and lightly over or on a surface or through the air. ↘throw (a flat stone) so that it bounces several times on the surface of water. 3》 read … English new terms dictionary
skim — /skim/, v., skimmed, skimming, n. v.t. 1. to take up or remove (floating matter) from the surface of a liquid, as with a spoon or ladle: to skim the cream from milk. 2. to clear (liquid) thus: to skim milk. 3. to move or glide lightly over or… … Universalium
skim — [ skım ] verb 1. ) intransitive or transitive to move quickly over the surface of something, or to make something do this: We stood on the bridge watching swallows skimming the water. skim across/over: Water skiers skimmed across the bay. a )… … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
skim — [skim] vt. skimmed, skimming [ME skimen, prob. akin to SCUM] 1. a) to clear (a liquid) of floating matter b) to remove (floating matter) from a liquid 2. to coat or cover with a thin layer [a pond skimmed with ice] … English World dictionary
skim — UK [skɪm] / US verb Word forms skim : present tense I/you/we/they skim he/she/it skims present participle skimming past tense skimmed past participle skimmed 1) [transitive] to remove a substance that is floating on the surface of a liquid skim… … English dictionary
skim — [[t]skɪm[/t]] v. skimmed, skim•ming, n. 1) to take up or remove (floating matter) from the surface of a liquid, as with a spoon or ladle 2) to clear (liquid) thus: to skim milk[/ex] 3) to move or glide lightly over or along (a surface, as of… … From formal English to slang
skim — [[t]skɪ̱m[/t]] skims, skimming, skimmed 1) VERB If you skim something from the surface of a liquid, you remove it. [V n off/from n] Rough seas today prevented specially equipped ships from skimming oil off the water s surface... [V n with off]… … English dictionary
skim — I. verb (skimmed; skimming) Etymology: Middle English skymmen, skemen, probably from Anglo French escumer, from escume foam, scum, of Germanic origin; akin to Middle Dutch schum scum more at scum Date: 14th century transitive verb 1. a. to clear… … New Collegiate Dictionary
